2018 POSITIVENAIJA ESSAY COMPETITION
The 2018 PositiveNaija Essay Competition aims to encourage Nigerian patriotism, nation building as well as a platform for excellence!
Title of Essay:
THE LOVE OF A NIGERIAN!
Objective:
Inform the world through your essay, what genuinely makes Nigeria and Nigerians kind, cooperative, tolerant and well-meaning towards one another and humanity today.
Eligibility:
- Essay submissions are free – at no cost to the participants
- Open to all nationalities
- Participants and winners of the 2017 edition can still participate
- PositiveNaija Team and the Advisory Judges are not eligible
Essay format:
- Maximum of 1,500 words.
- At the beginning or end of the essay, state only your full names, nationality, email and telephone number(s).
- Must be submitted in both MS Word & Portable Document format (PDF).
Essay expectations:
- One (1) essay submission per person.
- Must be original, no plagiarism and not previously published.
- The competition language and the language of entries is English.
- Truth, logical consistency, facts, narrative structure/organisation, creativity/initiative.
- Once an essay is submitted, it is considered a final submission and may not be modified, edited, or replaced.
Reward [starting cash prizes] | [current cash prizes]
- 1st prize: ₦75,000 | [₦80,000]
- 2nd prize: ₦50,000 | [₦55,000]
- 3rd prize: ₦25,000 | [₦30,000]
- 4th prize: ₦15,000
- 5th prize: ₦10,000
- 6th prize: ₦10,000
Reward [certificates]:
Top 10 (now Top 6)
Reward [publication]:
- 1st position: Essay is published as the ‘Foreword’ in the 2018 PositiveNaija Series
- 2nd – 6th positions: Essays published in the 2018 PositiveNaija Series
- 1st – 6th positions: Essays are published weekly on the blog.
Timelines:
- Submission dates by participants: 1st June 2018 – 31st July 2018 (SEE ANNEX 4 for status of entries).
- PositiveNaija review and submit Top 10 best entries to Advisory Judges: August 1 – 10, 2018.
- Blind review by Advisory Judges who shall [individually] assess, grade and rank the entries: August 11 – 31, 2018.
- Decision on Top 10 entries by Advisory Judges are published (without ranking) on the Competition Page: 3rd September 2018.
*Decisions by the Judges are final and are not subject to legal appeal
- Profiles of the Top 10 participants are requested and Top 4th – 10th are published: September 4-6, 2018
- The audience will then determine the final ranking for Positions 4th – 10th with an open and public online vote – multiple votes are allowed (SEE ANNEX 1 below for voting weights): September 8 – 14, 2018
- The audience will then determine the final ranking and winner (Top 3) with an open and public online vote – multiple votes are allowed (SEE ANNEX 1 below for voting weights): September 17 – 23, 2018
- PositiveNaija collates: September 24 – 30, 2018
- Overall winner (and essay)/results are declared/published on 1st October 2018 on PositiveNaija
- Payments made and certificate issued to winners on 1st October 2018
Sponsorship:
We welcome sponsorships for the 2018 PositiveNaija Annual Essay Competition. Identifying, supporting and partnering with us on this competition is a testament to your personal, institutional or corporate conviction on the greatness, development and potentials of Nigeria/Nigerians.
For transparent and accountability purposes, every sponsorship for this competition received shall be made available on the blog [for privacy, sponsors can choose to use the initials of their names] (SEE ANNEX 3 below). We shall also provide up-to-date progress report to you.
Your support – financial or service-oriented, could therefore be targeted to the following areas (SEE ANNEX 2 below for account details and guidance):
- Prizes: Top 1 – 10 Essays (Target: 10 million Naira)
- Media/Publicity (Target: 3 million Naira)
- Administrative/Logistics (Target: 2 million Naira)
- General/Overarching – If your support is targeted to the general/overarching running of the competition, we will ensure equity in its distribution to the entire competition process.
We are committed to making the PositiveNaija Annual Essay Competition, the most rewarding educational prize competition in Nigeria by the year 2022.
Submission:
Email: positivenaija@yahoo.com
Deadline: 31 July 2018
Advisory Judges (4):
Eire. Ifueko Alufohai (Mrs.) - BA, LLB, LLM
Legal Practitioner and Executive-level professional with over 20 years combined experience in legal practice, legal advisory services, and administration of national and international status.
She is well-positioned to apply legal and administrative expertise towards providing value-adding solutions.
Mrs. Alufohai was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1996. She holds an LLM from the University of Houston, Houston Texas, and also a B.A in History from the University of Benin.
She is the immediate past Executive Director of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and currently the Edo State Focal Person of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sharon Kaburuk - BSc, MSc
Communications Specialist. Creative Director, TaTsuniya and initiator #NigerianHistoryMatters. Experience in Brand & communications, event coordination and administration. Currently focusing on Capacity building and Private sector partnerships in Renewable Energy.
Mr. Osagie James Osemwegie - Bsc, Msc
Mr. Emmanuel Akpata
Strategy Consultant with academic background in Economics, Consumer behaviour and System Dynamics.
Acceptance of Terms
By participating you declare that you accept these terms and conditions.
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ANNEX 1 – Voting Rights and Weights
*The Advisory Judges shall grade each entry with a total of 100
*The grades of the Advisory Judges shall have 80% (0.8) voting weight
*The audience can vote as many times possible
*The votes of the audience shall have a 20% (0.2) voting weight
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ANNEX 2 – Sponsorship Guide
*Account information (Bank name: Access Bank; Account name: Toju Ogbe; Account number: 0006376703)
* Use ‘2018 PositiveNaija Essay’ as support description. You can also send an email/sms indicating your support provided.
*We do not accept cash; please make all financial contributions via the account information provided.
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ANNEX 3 – 2018 PositiveNaija Competition Sponsors
*Only received contributions of support are listed below in the order they come in/we receive them.
Institutions
| Name | Contribution | Category |
| Geo-Group Limited | ₦25,000 |
Prizes |
| GreCo Power & Energy Limited | ₦25,000 | Prizes |
Individuals
| Name | Contribution | Category |
| I. T. I. | ₦70,000 | Administrative/Logistics |
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ANNEX 4 – Status of Entries (press release)
- Total number of entries: (77)
- Nationalities: Nigerians [77]
- Rather than the Top 10 essays envisaged or hoped for, Top 6 essays emerged.
- Names from No. 7-77 do not imply their positions in the Competition (rather, largely in the order they were received).
- We are willing to provide feedback to all who did not make it into the Top 6 the reason why (as far as they request for it via email or Whatsapp).
| No. | Names | Positions | Advisory Judges (/400) | Public Votes |
| 1. | Akunna James-Ibe | 1st | 286 [228.8] | 15,615 [3,123] |
| 2. | Ogigbah Esiri | 2nd | 273 [218.4] | 15,331 [3,066.2] |
| 3. | Adu Michael Adeyemi | 3rd | 275 [220] | 6,937 [1,387.4] |
| 4. | Abdullateef Olasubomi Abdul | 4th |
271 [216.8] | 280 [56] |
| 5. | Iteire Afor Darlington | 5th | 228 [182.4] | 44 [8.8] |
| 6. | Udeme Akpan | 6th | 215 [172] | 19 [3.8] |
| 7. | Ogodo Dominic Ogochukwu | – | – | – |
| 8. | Chigozie Odinaka Nwosu | – | – | – |
| 9. | Okolie Sharon | – | – | – |
| 10. | Adeniran Mutolyb Adekola | – | – | – |
| 11. | Joanna Oluwatosin Abodunrin | – | – | – |
| 12. | Akinkitan Joel | – | – | – |
| 13. | Daniel Adeola Adeagbo | |||
| 14. | Anierobi Maureen Ogechukwu | – | – | – |
| 15. | Idris Oke Ayomo | – | – | – |
| 16. | Khadijat Bolajoko Abolarinwa | – | – | – |
| 17. | Asooye Paul A. | – | – | – |
| 18. | Odetokun Blessing Odeleke | – | – | – |
| 19. | Nwede Chiamaka Stellamaris | – | – | – |
| 20. | Michael Adekambi Ajayi | – | – | – |
| 21. | Precious Mukoro | – | – | – |
| 22. | Asheolge Favour Moses | – | – | – |
| 23. | Kenneth Okpomo | – | – | – |
| 24. | Ede Ifunanya Chiamaka | – | – | – |
| 25. | Nwafor Merciful Chika | – | – | – |
| 26. | Deborah Mbah | – | – | – |
| 27. | Abraham Uwe Esang | – | – | – |
| 28. | Jonathan Mairiga | – | – | – |
| 29. | Onah Orkanyichukwu Clement | – | – | – |
| 30. | Onwosi Ikechukwu Destiny | – | – | – |
| 31. | Egonte Ndidi Andrew | – | – | – |
| 32. | Joseph David | – | – | – |
| 33. | Uko Ettido Maurice | – | – | – |
| 34. | Davies Jesutobiloba Ruth | – | – | – |
| 35. | Precious Lawrence Eme | – | – | – |
| 36. | Abasima Solomon Essien | – | – | – |
| 37. | Nnadi Obioma Emmanuel | – | – | – |
| 38. | Gospel Oladotun Akano | – | – | – |
| 39. | Onuigbo John Chukwubuikem | – | – | – |
| 40. | Segun Jones | – | – | – |
| 41. | Ikeogu Chinemerem Chibuikem | – | – | – |
| 42. | Olowolagba Tahir Ayodeji | – | – | – |
| 43. | Nwokpor Nnaemeka Collins | – | – | – |
| 44. | Mafeni Praise | – | – | – |
| 45. | Iteire Ajirioghene Favour | – | – | – |
| 46. | Iteire Naomi Iruoghene | – | – | – |
| 47. | Chidiogo MaryJane Okechukwu | – | – | – |
| 48. | Wojuola Oladamola Moses | – | – | – |
| 49. | Okoro Michael Chukwuemeka | – | – | – |
| 50. | Ugochukwu Henry Prosper | – | – | – |
| 51. | Iluetsebu Solomon Onoshothena | – | – | – |
| 52. | Olasehinde Oluwagbenga Elijah | – | – | – |
| 53. | Itanka Columba Columba | – | – | – |
| 54. | Ismail Rotimi Lawal | – | – | – |
| 55. | Okoli Johnson Chinonso | – | – | – |
| 56. | Aguonye Joan | – | – | – |
| 57. | Igwe Chukwu Donatus | – | – | – |
| -58. | Olagunju Juwon Abraham | – | – | – |
| 59. | Aninwaeze Sandra Ukamaka | – | – | – |
| 60. | Sumayya Opeifa | – | – | – |
| 61. | Omotosho Oluwadamilola O. | – | – | – |
| 62. | Onowori Fego Eunice | – | – | – |
| 63. | Okere Godsent Chinedu | – | – | – |
| 64. | Aishat Ibrahim | – | – | – |
| 65. | Ejide Obinna Nnaemeka | – | – | – |
| 66. | Alonge Taiwo Olasubomi | – | – | – |
| 67. | Sharomi Ridwan Oluwabusayo | – | – | – |
| 68. | Chuwkunonso Daniel Ogbe | – | – | – |
| 69. | Ogbaga Sunday Thomas | – | – | – |
| 70. | Sofiyyah Olamide Popoola Yusuf | – | – | – |
| 71. | Yunusa Halimat Sadia | – | – | – |
| 72. | Opatola Tayo Tolu | |||
| 73. | Ogunkayode Oluwaseyi Simeon | – | – | – |
| 74. | Obiji Chukwuemeka Emmanuel | – | – | – |
| 75. | Musa Abdulwahab Bello | – | – | – |
| 76. | Egerue Nneoma Immaculata | – | – | – |
| 77. | Anthony Chikaodili Maryrose | – | – | – |
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ANNEX 5 – Lessons Learnt (Internal)
- Increase of Advisory Judges weight from 80% to 95% from 2019.
*Last updated: 02 October 2018
See the 2017 PositiveNaija Annual Essay Competition on the next page.
