Three university students have emerged winners of a combined prize of ₦900,000 at the grand finale of a national essay competition focused on artificial intelligence literacy and responsible technology use, held in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative organised the National Tertiary Institution Essay Competition on Thursday, drawing students, academics, policymakers, and technology advocates to the event themed "Artificial Intelligence for Public Good: Balancing Innovation, Human Welfare, and Responsible Governance."

Adeniji Yusuf Joseph of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, clinched the first position and took home a cash prize of ₦400,000. Enoch Aremu of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology placed second and received ₦300,000, while Deniran El Caleb Obanijesu of Obafemi Awolowo University claimed third place and earned ₦200,000.

The competition attracted 1,423 essay submissions from students across 549 tertiary institutions in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Entries were narrowed to 100 essays after the first round of assessment, before a five member panel of judges selected 12 finalists comprising four female and eight male students for the grand finale.

The Executive Director of BBYDI, Nurah Jimoh Sanni, stated that the initiative was designed to encourage young Nigerians to critically examine both the opportunities and challenges of emerging technologies.

"The response we received reflects the curiosity, intellectual engagement, and readiness of young Nigerians to participate meaningfully in conversations that will shape the country's digital future," Jimoh Sanni remarked.

She acknowledged that the competition also exposed a growing concern around the use of AI generated content among students. "Technology should support human thinking, not replace it," she emphasised, underlining the need for ethical awareness in the use of artificial intelligence tools.

The final stage featured an oratory session where finalists presented and defended their ideas before judges drawn from academia, media, law, and technology. Panel member Olasupo Abideen noted that the finalists displayed strong originality, ethical reasoning, and a clear grasp of the implications of artificial intelligence.

"The quality of ideas presented by these young Nigerians shows that the future of responsible technology use in the country is promising," Abideen added.

The initiative is part of the AI Literacy for Everyday People in Nigeria Project, supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.