The gates have officially swung open for this year’s Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition, marking a high stakes call for secondary school students across the federation to vie for elite prizes and substantial cash rewards.
According to an urgent dispatch from the Corporate Affairs Department of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) International Headquarters in Lagos, the window for entries launched on March 16 and is set to remain open until the final deadline on June 30.
This year’s competition thrusts young minds into the heart of the national conversation with a provocative and timely topic: “Democracy at the crossroads: Electoral credibility, judicial integrity and the future of Nigeria.”
In a formal statement signed by Anthony Samuel, organisers directed that all submissions be transmitted via email to essay@trem.org, though hard copies are still being accepted at the TREM International Headquarters at Anthony Oke Bus Stop, Gbagada, Lagos.
The rewards for intellectual excellence are significant, with the first place winner set to secure a ₦800,000 cash prize, a laptop, and a commemorative plaque, while their school will be honoured with a desktop computer and a plaque.
The first runner up will be awarded ₦500,000, a laptop, and a plaque, while the second runner up is slated to receive ₦400,000, a laptop, and a plaque. Both of their respective schools will also be reinforced with desktop computers.
This annual gauntlet for Nigerian students is precision engineered to sharpen sophisticated writing skills, cultivate deep seated critical thinking, and bridge the gap between academic narratives and the trending socio political issues defining the nation.
Since its high profile debut in 2004, the competition has exploded in scale, drawing in over 20,000 participants and cementing its status as a premier platform for intellectual discourse on the Nigerian experience.
The initiative stands as a cornerstone of Bishop Okonkwo’s corporate social responsibility, intentionally synchronised with his annual birthday celebrations to empower the next generation of thinkers.
Beyond the essay competition, Okonkwo’s legacy of advocacy is felt through the Empowerment for the Less Privileged (ELP) Foundation, an NGO dedicated to mitigating hardship via hospital donations and free vocational training.
The foundation also provides comprehensive scholarship programs for the country's most talented youth. The impact of this mission extends further through a partnership with his wife under the Women of Global Impact initiative.
This initiative provides critical health services like free cervical screening for rural women. This holistic approach is rounded out by annual donations of food and clothing, ensuring that the less privileged and widows remain a central focus.
