PYO Essay Competition

Background

This essay competition is aimed at pupils of secondary schools in Osun State, Nigeria. This is building on a hugely successful pilot that ran between December 2023 and March 2024 in Ife East Local Government of Osun State. 

Objective

The objective of this competition is to provide a platform for young minds to express themselves and to encourage critical thinking and writing skills among students. We believe that by engaging them in thoughtful discussions on relevant topics, we can contribute to their personal growth and development. 

Eligibility

• Current pupils of private and public secondary schools in Osun State, Nigeria.  

• Must be in JSS 2, JSS 3, SSS 2 or SSS 3

Essay Topics

The competition is in two categories - junior secondary and senior secondary. Interested applicants are to take note of the topics below and choose the one that applies to them. 

Junior Secondary (JSS 2 and 3)

My roles as a child in conserving resources in my home during difficult times (500 words)

Senior Secondary (SSS 2 and 3)

The role of teenagers in their family's economic stability (750 words)

Prizes

Top three essays will receive education grants up to the following values in NAIRA.  

Junior category (JS)

Winner 350,000

First runner-up 250,000

Second runner-up 150,000

Senior Category (SS)

Winner 500,000

First runner-up 350,000

Second runner-up 200,000

How to apply

Please follow these instructions carefully.

1. Applicants must submit their entries by email only, to pyo-essay@egbetokun.com.

2. The subject line of the email must be PYO-ESSAY-FIRSTNAME-LASTNAME. For example, the subject line for an applicant named Deborah Adeoye will be PYO-ESSAY-DEBORAH-ADEOYE. 

3.  A complete submission will include: 

• a handwritten essay, scanned in PDF format and attached to the email;

• details of the applicant in the body of the email (First name, Surname, Current school, School address, Current class, Email address (if any), Phone number of an adult with parental responsibility);

• a clear passport-size photograph; and

• a clear scanned copy of ONLY ONE of birth certificate, NIN slip or International Passport.

4. The scanned essay must be clear and legible. Applicants are therefore advised to write on ruled foolscap sheets with margins on both sides of the page and to use good-quality scanning devices or software.

5. Incomplete submissions and illegible essays will be disqualified.

Deadline

February 15, 2025

For more information

Email: abiodun@egbetokun.com

Phone: +2347039392006

WhatsApp: +2348053387246