Competitions & Programmes

2020 POSITIVENAIJA ESSAY COMPETITION

The 2020 PositiveNaija Essay Competition aims to promote: the clarity of the common objective(s) and usefulness of the Nigerian state; Nigerian patriotism; impactful scholarship as well as serve as a platform for excellence!

Title of Essay:

THE PURPOSE OF NIGERIA!

Objective:

Inform the world on what genuinely gives you confidence on the reason(s) why Nigeria exists as a country today for the good of Nigerians and humanity.

Eligibility:

  • Essay submissions are free – at no cost to the participants
  • Open to all persons of any nationality
  • Participants and winners of the previous PositiveNaija initiatives can still participate
  • PositiveNaija Team and the Advisory Judges are not eligible [excluding the Volunteers – who have no involvement in the organisation of the Event]

purpose of Nigeria competition

Essay format:

  • Maximum of 1,500 words.
  • At the beginning or end of the essay, state only your full names, nationality, email and telephone number(s).
  • Must be submitted in both MS Word & Portable Document format (PDF).

Essay expectations:

  • One (1) essay submission per person.
  • Must be original, no plagiarism and not previously published.
  • The competition language and the language of entries is English.
  • Truth, logical consistency, facts with reliable references, narrative structure/organisation, creativity/initiative.
  • Once an essay is submitted, it is considered a final submission and may not be modified, edited, or replaced.

Reward [cash prizes]:

  • 1st prize: 70,000
  • 2nd prize: 50,000
  • 3rd prize: ₦30,000

Reward [certificates]:

Top 10

Reward [publication]:

  • 1st position: Essay is published as the ‘Foreword’ in the 2020 PositiveNaija Series
  • 2nd – 10th positions: Essays published in the 2020 PositiveNaija Series
  • 1st – 10th positions: Essays are published weekly on the website.

Timelines:

  • Submission dates by participants: July 1 – 31, 2020 (SEE ANNEX 4 for status of entries).
  • PositiveNaija review and submit Top 10 best entries to Advisory Judges: August 1 – 9, 2020.
  • Blind review by Advisory Judges who shall [individually] assess, grade and rank the entries: August 10 – 30, 2020.
  • Decision on Top 10 entries by Advisory Judges are published (without ranking) on the Competition Page: 1st September 2020.

*Decisions by the Judges are final and are not subject to legal appeal

  • Profiles of the Top 10 participants are requested and Top 4th – 10th are published: September 1 – 5, 2020
  • The audience will then determine the final ranking for Positions 4th – 10th with an open and public online vote – multiple votes are allowed (SEE ANNEX 1 below for voting weights): September 6 – 13, 2020
  • PositiveNaija collates; prepares and issue certificates: September 14 – 19, 2020
  • The audience will then determine the final ranking and winner (Top 3) with an open and public online vote – multiple votes are allowed (SEE ANNEX 1 below for voting weights): September 20 – 27, 2020
  • PositiveNaija collates and prepares certificates: September 28 – 30, 2020
  • Wole Joshua & Co. audits entire competition process: July – September 30, 2020
  • Overall winner (and essay)/results are declared/published on 1st October 2020
  • Payments made and certificate issued to winners on 1st October 2020

Sponsorship:

We welcome sponsorships for the 2020 PositiveNaija Essay Competition. Identifying, supporting and partnering with us on this competition is a testament to your personal, institutional or corporate conviction on the greatness, development and potentials of Nigeria/Nigerians.

For transparent and accountability purposes, every sponsorship for this competition received shall be made available on the blog [for privacy, sponsors can choose to use the initials of their names] (SEE ANNEX 3 below). We shall also provide up-to-date progress report to you.

Your support – financial or service-oriented, could therefore be targeted to the following areas (SEE ANNEX 2 below for account details and guidance):

  • Prizes: Top 1 – 10 Essays (Target: 10 million Naira)
  • Media/Publicity (Target: 3 million Naira)
  • Administrative/Logistics (Target: 2 million Naira)
  • General/Overarching – If your support is targeted to the general/overarching running of the competition, we will ensure equity in its distribution to the entire competition process.

We are committed to making the PositiveNaija Annual Essay Competition, the most rewarding educational prize competition in Nigeria.

Submission:

Email: positivenaija@yahoo.com

Deadline: 31 July 2020 | 11:59 PM (GMT +1)

Advisory Judges (4):

Dr. (Mrs) Tayo Ola George

Dr. Mrs. Tayo Ola GeorgeDr. Tayo O. George (B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D in Sociology) is an Associate Professor, Gender and Development Studies and Former Head, Department of Sociology at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

She is a scholar, researcher and teacher with a vision of knowledge creation and impact to the younger generation.

Among other national and international professional bodies, she is a Member of the Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Practitioners Association (NASA); an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN); and a Member of the Council for Development of Social Research in Africa (CODESRIA) Institute Dakar, Senegal.

 

Oladoyin Abiona

Oladoyin AbionaOladoyin Abiona earned her first and second degrees in English Studies from Adekunle Ajasin University Ondo State and University of Port Harcourt respectively in Nigeria. She taught English and Literature at Bloombreed High School, Port Harcourt until her going to the United States on a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship Scholarship for the 2016/17 academic session where she assisted in teaching Yoruba language and culture at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

She has been involved in organizing workshops for teachers of English in South West Nigeria. Presently, she is a graduate student at the Popular Culture Department, Bowling Green State University, Ohio.

 

Dr. Obiajulu Nnamuchi

Dr. Obiajulu NnamuchiDr. Obiajulu Nnamuchi is head, Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, with teaching duties also at the Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences.

He received a LL.B from Nigeria, LL.M. (Notre Dame), LL.M. (Toronto), LL.M. (Lund), M.A. (Louisville) and S.J.D. (Loyola, Chicago).

A formally trained bioethicist (University of Louisville Medical School), Dr. Nnamuchi is also the founder of the Centre for Health, Bioethics and Human Rights (CHBHR) and director of its section on Bioethics. His scholarship focuses mainly on the intersection of law and medicine; human rights; global health; bioethics; and, health governance and financing – areas on which he has written extensively. He is currently working on the intersection of law and communicable diseases, particularly in the realm of tobacco control, and the health dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Sanni Alausa-Issa

Sanni Alausa-IssaSanni Alausa-Issa is a writer, public speaker and a capacity-building enthusiast.

He currently mentors over 100 people on personal development, leadership and career development

A book lover and a staunch advocate of reviving the reading culture among youths. He believes in the transformative power of education and how it can contribute to nation-building.

2020 PositiveNaija Advisory Judges

 

Acceptance of Terms

By participating you declare that you accept these terms and conditions.

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ANNEX 1 – Voting Rights and Weights

*The Advisory Judges shall grade each entry with a total of 100

*The grades of the Advisory Judges shall have 80% (0.8) voting weight

*The audience can vote as many times possible

*The votes of the audience shall have a 20% (0.2) voting weight

competition

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ANNEX 2 – Sponsorship Guide

*Account information (Bank name: Access Bank; Account name: Toju Ogbe; Account number: 0006376703)

* Use ‘2020 PositiveNaija Essay’ as support description. You can also send an email/sms indicating your support provided.

*We do not accept cash; please make all financial contributions via the account information provided.

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ANNEX 3 – 2020 PositiveNaija Essay Competition Sponsors

*Only received contributions of support are listed below in the order they come in/we receive them.

Institutions

Name Contribution Category
Wole Joshua & Co. Event Process Auditing Administrative/Logistics
Geo-Group Limited 20,000 Prizes
NanaBytez Enterprise 25,000 Prizes
 

Individuals

Name Contribution Category
I. T. I. ₦76,400 Prizes
 

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ANNEX 4 – Status of Entries (press release)

  1. Total number of entries: 153
  2. Nationalities: Nigerians (153)
  3. Rather than the top ten (10) essays envisaged or hoped for, three (3) essays emerged top/finalists.
  4. Names from Nos. 4 – 153 do not imply their positions in the competition (rather, largely in the order their essays were received).
  5. We are willing to provide feedback to all who did not make it into the top best essays – the reason why (as far as they request for it via email or WhatsApp). Feedback will be provided from October 2, 2020 within one week of the request or commencement of the feedback period.
  6. Top three (3) participants should kindly send in via email a brief profile of themselves, photograph(s) and account details.

 

Winners: 1st – 3rd

 

No. Names Positions Advisory Judges (/400) Public Votes
1. Femi-Lawal VictorAdu Michael Adeyemi 1st 324 [259.2] 17,049 [3,409.8]
2. Adu Michael Adeyemi 2nd 323 [258.4] 4,830 [966]
3. Olawale Lekan Christopher 3rd 320 [256] 2,655 [531]
4. Ekoja Solomon Okewu
5. Mok Samuel Ogochukwu
6. Ukiri Prosper Ogbeneyole
7. Isah Babayo
8. Oluwasina Oreoluwa
9. Rhandy Ikoabasi Ken-Iyang
10. Sajini Israel
11. Unomah Gabriel Chiazor
12. Nater Paul Akpen
13. Bernard Moses Ebiwei
14. Folarin Oluwatimilehin Oluwaseun
15. Zeenat Magaji
16. Ezekwe Chidinma Jessica Chiamaka
17. Philip Victory Obadiah
18. Sonia Mallum Awala
19. Olawoye Oluwanifemi F.
20. Roland Okoyo
21. Abosede Oyinlola
22. Afolabi Olamide Precious
23. Jegede Steve Olutunmise
24. Jeremiah Udeme Cornerstone
25. Okeke Victor Kenechi

 

26. Ezewuzie Nkiruka Juliet
27. Kareem Sodiq Adio
28. Kareem Fathia Abiodun
29. Kareem Mariam Abike
30. Kareem Mulikat
31. Uzoigwe Henry Ejike
32. Ogunsesan Adebusola Nafisat
33. Franklyn chima-obim Chukwu
34. Ogbuozobe Onyeka Godson
35. Ike-Njoku Ahunna Theresa
36. Agwuna Favour Obianuju
37. Bubu Moses Oghenerukevwe
38. Babarinde George Ayodeji
39. ObabiOlorunkosi Balogun
40. Grace Asegunloluwa Abiala
41. Ogbuagu Chukwuebuka Kingsley
42. Agu Sharon Chisom
43. Ezechukwu Oluchkwu Ifeyinwa
44. Shodeinde Taiwo Ayomide
45. Adebajo Emmanuel Ayomipo
46. Uloma Odigbo
47. Chukwunonso Daniel Ogbe
48. Adetunji Oluwatobiloba Samson
49. Ghazali Muhammad Taiwo
50. Adesina Tantoluwa
51. Akinnagbe Samuel Mofiyinfoluwa
52. Ukoha Victor Chukwudi
53. Mohammed Ismaila Sesan
54. Baribefe Daniel Emmanuel
55. Destiny Aniyom Ijo
56. Joel Funom Joshua
57. Ogboronjo Favour Nmessoma
58. Oluwasegun Inioluwa
59. Fashugba Teslim Omotola
60. Eze Ifediba Angela
61. John Chidera Winifred
62. Nwafor Merciful
63. Uyanwune Mbanefo Chukwuewenite
64. Ikemesit Ini Okon
65. Samuel Riches Okure

 

66. Ortese Barnabas Aza
67. Ezugwu Pauline Amarachi
68. Oyim Florence Nkechinyere

 

69. Ezeogbuka Chidimma Maria
70. Ibrahim Timilehin Elizabeth
71. Seidu Wahab Oriade
72. Yekini MohammeduRobiu Akanni
73. Shadare Oluwasemilore Enoch
74. Ayomide Mitchelle Odewumi
75. Ogbebor Daniel
76. Nwaigbo Ikenna Hillary
77. Audu Prince Fater
78. Adegbite Oluwafemi Samuel
79. Agbo Chiamaka Peace
80. Oyelami Emmanuel Timileyin
81. Adebayo Isaac Toluwashe
82. Ugochukwu Kosisochukwu Judith
83. Adetolu Eunice Tolulope
84. Asadu Chiamaka Jennifer
85. Atanda Halimat Chisom
86. Nwagwu Chijindum Oluchi
87. Philip Iyawa Zoe
88. Joel Adewale Ezekiel
89. Akubueze Goodness Chinweoruebube
90. Ezeadum Sixtus Ebube
91. Elele Maria-Assumpta
92. Okoro Michael Chukwuemeka
93. Ojukwu Chisom Kennedy
94. Chigbo Dorathy Chimere
95. Adeoye Favour Isaiah
96. Femi Ogundeyi
97. Udoh Cleopatra Nkemsinachi
98. Akinrinsola Babajide Azeez
99. Sola-Ojo Mofesola Wuraola
100. Michelle Terdoo Shishi
101. Joel Izuchukwu Onyeadurunu
102. Ogbebor Emmanuel Muyiwa
103. Faith Osasenaga Osasogie
104. Eze Ebuka Harrison
105. Eseroghene Emamegho Leleji
106. Ukula Jessica
107. Chioma Esther Ezeigbo
108. Jessa Rhema John
109. Remigius Clinton
110. Adeniseun Abimbola
111. Ikibe Favour Jacinth
112. Ohia Prince-Victor Chinecheremu
113. Mbangohol Ikeseh
114. Abraham Uwe Esang
115. Usulor Chukwuebuka Prince
116. Deborah Adewumi Abayomi
117. Enoch Akinlabi
118. Abdulrasaq Qawamdeen
119. Okache Marvel Owogbolane
120. Mairiga Jonathan
121. Sarafadeen Bello
122. Orok Francis Olusola
123. Daniel Oluborode
124. Abdul Habeeb Akorede
125. Okpata Amarachi Sylvia
126. Ogunkayode Oluwaseyi Simeon
127. Akinrinsola Peter Oluwatobi
128. Ononye Onyekachi Henrietta
129. Oparaugo Chimaroke Nkechi
130. Peter Columba Itanka
131. Elujekwute Charles Chidera
132. Okonkwo Chidera Lynda
133. Ajayi Ayomide
134. Akintobi Ayomide Ezekiel
135. Batambari Innocent Needu
136. Eze Victor Chisom
137. Israel Jacob Eze
138. Ruth Kooaka Dorgbaa
139 Idehen Aisosa
140. Idehen Osaivbie Glory
141. Ibe Joy Chidinma
142. Chinedu Mpamugo
143. Precious Ushang Etenung
144. Udeme Akpan
145. Idemor Angela Itamike
146. Akano Gospel Oladotun
147. Nwaneri David Chizitere Ikechukwu
148. Anthony Udom
149. Okwuka Favour Chiamaka
150. Kolawole Ruqayyah Odunola
151. Nnadi Chimere Ihebube
152. Oyewole Abimbola Deborah
153. Eze Juliet Afam

 

*Last updated: 02 September 2020 (5:00 pm)

 

 

See the 2019 PositiveNaija Essay Competition on the next page.

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