The Ebonyi Transparency and Accountability Network (ETAN) has intensified efforts to revive Nigeria’s declining writing culture with the successful hosting of the second edition of its statewide secondary school essay competition in Ebonyi State.
The competition, which brought together students from different parts of the state, is part of ETAN’s broader commitment to educational development and youth capacity building. It is aimed at stimulating critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills among young people.
Speaking on the initiative, an ETAN member, Mr. Uneke Nwevo, said the essay competition aligns with the organisation’s core objectives of providing strategic interventions in sectors considered weak within the state, particularly education.
“This is the second edition of the essay competition. It aligns with our goal of developing young minds and coaching students to think differently by engaging them in key subject areas that provoke thought and offer solutions adults can reflect upon,” Nwevo said.
He explained that participation in the second edition improved compared to the maiden outing. While the first edition attracted mostly students from Abakaliki, this year’s competition recorded entries from Afikpo South, Ivo, Ikwo and Ishielu Local Government Areas.
However, Nwevo expressed concern that participation from these areas fell below expectations, especially from public secondary schools, as the majority of participants were from private institutions.
According to him, a total of 99 students participated in the competition and were adequately catered for throughout the exercise. He disclosed that the winner in the senior secondary school category received ₦200,000, while the junior secondary category winner went home with ₦150,000. He added that total prize money for the competition was close to ₦1 million, excluding logistics.
While declining to disclose the overall budget of the programme, Nwevo described the future of the initiative as promising, expressing ETAN’s desire to see winners emerge from all parts of Ebonyi State, including Ikwo, Ishielu, Edda and other communities beyond Abakaliki.
“When participation is used as a decision-making criterion, it reflects the quality and classification of education across different areas. Our goal is to engage more students outside Abakaliki,” he said.
Nwevo further revealed that ETAN plans to expand the scope of the competition beyond essay writing, noting that not every child excels in writing. According to him, future editions will incorporate other skill- and talent-based platforms to promote inclusiveness.
“We are only custodians of these children. Parents must support them to become the best versions of themselves. God never creates anything faulty, and every child has a unique talent that should be nurtured,” he added.
Also speaking, the Principal of Hope High British International School, Rev. Deacon Samuel Chita, said the school was honoured to receive awards from ETAN following the statewide essay competition conducted last year.
He confirmed that students from the institution emerged first, second and third in both senior and junior secondary categories.
Chita commended ETAN for the initiative, noting that the competition exposed a disturbing decline in writing skills among students across many schools.
“There is a clear erosion of creativity and psychomotor writing abilities. Excessive reliance on abbreviations has negatively affected students’ writing proficiency. ETAN’s initiative is a deliberate effort to revive and restore the writing culture, and we deeply appreciate it,” he said.
However, he expressed concern over the low turnout recorded during the competition, attributing it to inadequate government support. He revealed that letters reportedly written by ETAN to the Ebonyi State Ministry of Education received no response.
“As a result, participation was largely from private schools, with Ebonyi State University Secondary School being the only public school among the winners. About 100 students participated, which is very low considering the student population in the state,” he noted.
One of the highlights of the event was the emergence of Orji Chinedu, a student of EBSU Staff Secondary School, as the first prize winner in the senior secondary category. Describing the competition, which was held on November 1, 2025, Chinedu said the exercise was well organised and credible.
“There was discipline and decorum throughout the competition, and no examination malpractice was recorded,” he said, expressing gratitude to God, his parents and the organisers for their support.
Parents at the event also commended ETAN’s efforts. Mrs. Kanu Patricia Chizoba, an Ebonyi State indigene, praised the role of quality education and academic competitions in shaping young minds, expressing pride in her daughter, Kanu Praise, a student of White Cloud School.
With the successful conclusion of the second edition, ETAN has reiterated its resolve to deepen engagement, expand participation and reawaken a culture of excellence, creativity and integrity in education across Ebonyi State.
