Speaking on the initiative, an ETAN member, Mr. Uneke Nwevo, explained that the competition aligns with the core objectives of the association, which include providing strategic intervention in sectors identified as 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 noted that participation in the second edition was broader than in the maiden outing. While the first edition drew participants mainly from Abakaliki, this year’s competition recorded entries from Afikpo South, Ivo, Ikwo, and Ishielu Local Government Areas.
However, he expressed concern that participation from these areas fell below expectations, especially from public schools, as most of the participants were from private institutions.
According to Nwevo, a total of 99 students took part in the competition and were adequately catered for throughout the exercise. He disclosed that the first prize winner in the senior secondary category received ₦200,000, while the junior secondary category winner received ₦150,000, with total prize money amounting to nearly ₦1 million, excluding logistics.
While declining to disclose the overall budget, he described the future of the initiative as promising, expressing ETAN’s desire to see winners emerge from all parts of the 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 added.
Nwevo further disclosed that ETAN plans to expand the scope of the competition beyond essay writing, acknowledging that not every child excels in writing. He said future editions would incorporate other skill- and talent-based platforms to ensure 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 said.
In his remarks, Rev. Deacon Samuel Chita, Principal of Hope High British International School, said the institution was honoured to receive awards from ETAN following the statewide essay competition conducted last year.
He confirmed that students from the school emerged as first, second, and third place winners in both senior and junior secondary categories.
Chita commended ETAN for the initiative, noting that the competition exposed a worrying decline in students’ writing skills 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 limited participation recorded during the competition, attributing it to insufficient government support. He revealed that despite formal correspondence by ETAN to the Ebonyi State Ministry of Education, the letters were reportedly ignored.
“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.
He described the situation as a wake-up call for all stakeholders, urging government, NGOs, and education advocates to support initiatives that promote academic excellence.
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.
The competition, held on November 1, 2025, was described by Chinedu as well-organized and credible.
“There was discipline and decorum throughout the competition, and no examination malpractice was recorded,” he said, expressing gratitude to God, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Orji, his siblings, and the facilitators of the programme for their support.
The competition also drew commendations from parents, including Mrs. Kanu Patricia Chizoba, an Ebonyi State indigene married into Abia State, who praised the role of quality education and academic competitions in shaping young minds.
Mrs. Kanu, an alumna of Ebonyi State University and wife to a lecturer at the institution, expressed pride in her daughter, Kanu Praise, a student of White Cloud School, where she began from mid–Primary Two and completed Primary Six.
“She is a well-behaved, brilliant child. The school consistently gives her awards almost every academic year because of her excellent performance. She is quiet, obedient, and respectful, and her teachers always speak positively about her,” she said.
She added that she and her husband remain proud of their daughter and prayed for God’s continued promotion and upliftment in her academic journey.
With the successful conclusion of its 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.
