Yesterday, 17 year-old Lucy Agbalu, a 100-level Microbiology student in UNICAL, from Beten Village in Bekwarra LGA of Cross River State emerged as the first runner-up in the 7th Edition of the NCDMB Annual University Essay Competition winning a 700k, a laptop and other gifts.
Lucy who was the youngest among the top 10 national finalists and the only one from South-South. Her creative non-fiction approach of combining storytelling with fact left the panelists in awe. She has indeed made us all proud.
The 7th Edition of the #NCDMB Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition was held Yesterday at the Lady Daima Memorial Event Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The theme of the 2023 Essay competition was “Nigerian Content and the Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Mr Eyinimi Omorozi, CEO of Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited, thanked all distinguished guests, finalists, members of the council of judges, and everyone in attendance for taking the time to attend the ceremony. He praised the Board for its support of the effort.
The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote (FNSE, FIPS), represented by Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile, Manager, Corporate Communications, NCDMB, stressed the Board’s mandate and the importance of supporting the essay competition in his keynote address. He stated that the NCDMB has sponsored this contest for seven years because the Board places a high value on education and the intellectual development of our society’s youth, which is in line with the Board’s mandate of capacity-building and local content development.
He went on to remark that through this Essay Competition, the Board instills Local Content consciousness in students from higher education institutions, thereby generating advocates of Local Content.
He also detailed the Board’s youth-focused programs, interventions, and projects.
In addition, he praised all participants and the ten finalists, encouraging them to stay dedicated in their studies and hungry for new information.
Finally, he wished them luck with the rest of their studies.
Lazarus Favour Iruoma, a 200-level law student at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, has won the 2023 NCDMB Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition. She wins a million Naira, a laptop, and other prizes.
While Lucy Agbalu, a 100-level Microbiology student at the University of Calabar in Cross River state, came in first place. She walks away with 700,000 Naira, a laptop, and other prizes.
Olorunfemi Akintunde Samuel, a 200-level law student at Elizade University in Ondo State, finished second. He walks away with 500,000 Naira, a laptop, and other incentives.
In his vote of thanks, Barr Esueme Dan Kikile, Manager Corporate Communications, NCDMB, thanked the panel of judges, the consultant, and everyone who worked with the Board to bring the Essay competition to completion.
He congratulated all of the awardees on behalf of the NCDMB.