By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A national essay competition for secondary school students and undergraduates across the country has been launched by a renowned economist, Mr Paul Alaje.
The educational contest is part of the activities lineup for Mr Alaje’s colloquium scheduled for Saturday, May 25, 2024, at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja International Hotels.
Business Post gathered that public and private secondary school students between the ages of 12 and 18 who intend to participate in the writing competition would be required to write on the topic, Nigeria’s Development: Navigating the Way out of the Current Economic Crises and Insecurity for a chance to win the grand prize N150,000.
The essay, which must be submitted on or before Friday, April 26, 2024, should be sent to [email protected].
The winning essay must have explored potential solutions to the current economic and security challenges facing Nigeria, and the writer must have demonstrated a clear grasp of the main issues contributing to the economic crisis and insecurity.
One of the criteria is that the essay must be clear, concise, and engaging. It must be between 500 and 800 words and should include a title page with the name, class, school and contact information.
Mr Alaje noted that the participants must submit handwritten scanned copies and typeset softcopies, emphasising that neat and legible handwriting is essential.
He said the use of standard academic formatting (12-point font, double-spaced) is a must, adding that the use of AI-generated content is not accepted.
As for the undergraduate category, they are required to write on the same topic but must be between 1200 and 1500 words, and must demonstrate a deep understanding of the current economic and security challenges in Nigeria, their root causes, and interconnectedness.
The contestants are expected to propose well-researched and multi-faceted solutions, considering economic, technological, social, and political factors.
They would be required to delve into the practicality of the proposed solutions, identifying stakeholders, potential roadblocks, and strategies for long-term success, supporting their arguments with credible sources and data, and demonstrating a critical and analytical approach.
The prize for grabs for this category is N250,000, and the winner will be invited to deliver a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation of not more than 10 slides of the essays at the colloquium.
