A brilliant 14-year-old, Eshiet Abasiekeme, has outshined 12,000 contestants to emerge as the winner of an essay competition and was awarded a N2.5m scholarship to study at the university.
Eshiet Abasiekeme, a Bright Stars Model Secondary School pupil, from Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, emerged as the United Bank of Africa (UBA) Foundation National Essay Competition (NEC) winner.
She was awarded an educational grant of N2.5 million to study at any African university of her choice. She will also be supported throughout her educational career and beyond with constant mentoring by the UBA Foundation.
The UBA Foundation holds an annual National Essay Competition (NEC) for high school students from across Nigeria. The UBA Foundation’s Education Initiative has been changing lives for a decade as the tertiary education scholarship program continues impacting many students’ lives and their communities.
Eshiet, who had joined the virtual event from her school in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria, expressed her excitement as she heard the announcement that she had won the first prize of the NEC for that year.
“I feel honoured to be the winner of this year’s NEC, and I want to appreciate UBA and the UBA Foundation, as this will help towards my dream of becoming a lawyer,” she said.
Eshiett, together with 11 other finalists, were given brand new laptop computers to enable them to continue to work competitively in the evolving tech world.
The Managing Director/CEO of the UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, congratulated and applauded all the participants for their exceptional brilliance. She stated that the Foundation had taken into consideration the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on lives.