A 16-year-old undergraduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has emerged winner of this year’s NCDMB Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition, held on Friday at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa.
Miss Josephine Oyinkansola Akande, a 200-level medical student from Osun State, beat nine other finalists to secure the top prize, which includes N1 million, an HP laptop and other gifts.
Her victory capped the ninth edition of the Board’s nationwide contest, which draws participants from universities across the country.
The first runner-up, Mr Sonuga Sultan Opeyemi, a 23-year-old medical student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, received N700,000 and a laptop, while Miss Amarachi Precious Aguigwe, a computer science student at the University of Uyo, came third with a N500,000 prize and a laptop.
The remaining finalists were each presented with HP laptops as consolation awards. All 10 also received copies of Nigeria’s Local Content: A Journey of Strategic Communication and Economic Transformation, written by Dr Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager of the Board’s Corporate Communications Division.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the annual competition was designed to deepen awareness of local content among undergraduates and to highlight its importance to sustainable economic development.
He explained that the initiative also aims to strengthen students’ analytical ability, writing skills and problem-solving capacity, attributes he described as essential in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
This year’s theme, "Sustaining Local Content Policies in the Transitioning Oil and Gas Industry," reflects global concerns about energy transition and Nigeria’s need to secure its energy future, he added.
Ogbe, represented by Mr Teddy Bai, commended the consultants, Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited, and the judges for maintaining a transparent selection process.
Earlier, Mahogany’s chief executive, Mr Eyinimi Omorozi, praised the NCDMB for sustaining the programme for nearly a decade and acknowledged the judges for their professionalism.
The Chairman of the event, Professor Barclays Ayakoromo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) at the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, said the Board’s commitment to nurturing writing and intellectual engagement among students deserved wider recognition.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, represented by Mr Teleola Oyeleke, applauded the high standards achieved by the organisers and encouraged the finalists especially the top three, to stay committed to excellence.
He also assured the audience that the Board would continue to support the competition’s objectives.
Students from various institutions attended the ceremony, which also featured the following finalists: Abdullahi Abubakar Lawal, 26, of Baze University; Miss God’s Glory Isaiah Iyah, 17, of the University of Uyo; and Usman Mohammed Tahiru, 21, an electrical engineering student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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