Odetokun Blessing Odeleke has emerged the overall winner of the 2024 PositiveNaija essay competition, themed: The Pinnacle of Nigerian Excellence!
The 2024 PositiveNaija essay competition (July 1 – October 15, 2024) is purposed towards informing the world on the highest level of Nigerian inventiveness in any area of life with genuine impact on human dignity, safety and national development today.
The PositiveNaija annual essay competition aims to encourage the culture of creativity, innovation, service and excellence; the dignity, safety and prosperity of Nigerians; Nigerian patriotism; impactful scholarship; and nation building.
Winners
1st Prize
Mr. Odetokun Blessing Odeleke emerged overall winner with his essay and with a total weighted score of 407.28. Mr. Odetokun Blessing Odeleke receives a cash prize of ₦70,000.
Mr. Odetokun Blessing Odeleke is a Nigerian professional with expertise in Economics and Accounting. Educated at Kwara State University (B.Sc. Economics, 2017) and Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (M.Sc. Economics, 2023), he’s an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) since 2019. Currently an Enterprise Risk Management Officer at United Bank for Africa in Lagos, his career includes roles as an Accountant at Credit Capital Services Limited and Foodlocker Limited in Ibadan.
2nd Prize
Ms. Raheem Mutiyat Oreoluwa emerged second position winner with her essay and with a total weighted score of 330.84. She receives a cash prize of ₦50,000.
She is currently an undergraduate student of Microbiology at the prestigious University of Ilorin.
Judges rating total
- Odeleke: 343 (339.57 – 99%)
- Raheem: 327 (323.73 – 99%)
Public votes
- Odeleke: 6,771 (67.71 – 1%)
- Raheem: 711 (7.11 – 1%)
According to the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of PositiveNaija, Mr. Toju Micheal Ogbe:
“We thank God Almighty as we are once again pleased with another realization and success of the annual essay competition (now in its eight edition) – improving on the strategy, organisation, set objective and engagements by the participants.
The number of essays received numbering thirty (30) are impressive and encouraging. The quality of the entries overall especially in recognising the set expectation of the essay objectives are also commendable and can be better.
We are confident that the culture of reading, valuable research and interest in the positive progress and excellence of Nigerians on Nigeria continue to increase.
We are particularly glad that we have winners in this year’s edition compared to last three editions, which had no finalist/winner from the entries received.
The theme of this year’s essay competition is an intriguing one which examines the brilliance, ingenuity, and culture of excellence of the Nigerian people.
I am convinced that the investigation and expositions by the two finalist essays have provided reliable and valuable references of pride for Nigeria and Nigerians.
The two (2) finalist essays selected objectively rather than ten (10), which we hoped for is largely due to a number of limitations in the essays received. These limitations include: logical and narrative inconsistency; instances of lack of reliable/relevant references; spelling and grammatical errors; false information; wild generalisations; genuine value of the essay objective not profound with little or no linkage to the reality on ground today as most essays largely appeared to be – off-topic, descriptive, lamentational, historical or suggestive; late submissions; etc.
As we have always communicated and done even for the previous editions of our essay competitions, when requested only by the participants, we would provide feedback to all who did not make it as a finalist or winner – the specific reason(s) why as pertaining to their essays.
Our essay competition is a long-term vision towards becoming the most rewarding essay competition in Nigeria – not just financially but most importantly, upholding the values of purposeful insight, critical-thinking, transparency and accountability.
We appreciate the writers of the essays we received this year (30 in total – 30 Nigerians and one (1) Pakistan national). We appreciate their courage, trust and hope in a greater Nigeria, their intellectual brilliance as well as their confidence in our execution.
Together with the writers, we express gratitude to the general public with their respective support and engagement particularly during the public voting proceedings.
Congratulations to Mr. Odetokun Blessing Odeleke for emerging as the overall winner and Ms. Raheem Mutiyat Oreoluwa for emerging in second position.
We thank profoundly Professor Evans Osabuohien, Mrs. Emmanuella Edun, Mrs. Onyinye Tella Ogbuka and Mr. David Jacobs, for their prompt interest, wisdom, time and intellectual support as Advisory Judges for the essay competition this year.
We also express our heartfelt gratitude to our team at PositiveNaija; sponsors for this year’s essay competition – Wole Joshua and Co. (competition process auditor), as well as advisors [family, Elijah Ezaga, and many others] for their kind contributions; a testament of their belief in our vision and mission.
We also appreciate every person and institution genuinely committed to growth of the Nigeria as well as elevating and defending the dignity, safety and prosperity of Nigeria and Nigerians globally in their own little way.
We look forward to more remarkable editions in the future and further improvement in every aspect. Thank you.”
For more information on the competition, including the names of the participants, profile of the advisory judges, sponsorship contributions received, etc., see the official competition page.
The 2024 edition, themed “The Pinnacle of Nigerian Excellence!” was won by Odetokun Blessing Odeleke – with 30 entries received.
The 2023 edition of the PositiveNaija Essay Competition, themed “Nigerian Politics is not a Game!” had no finalist and winner – with 16 entries received.
The 2022 edition of the PositiveNaija Essay Competition, themed “The Listening Nigerian Leader!” had no finalist and winner – with 15 entries received.
The 2021 edition of the PositiveNaija Essay Competition, themed “The Power of the Nigerian People!” had no finalist and winner – with 21 entries received.
The 2020 edition, themed “The Purpose of Nigeria!” was won by Femi-Lawal Victor – with 153 entries received.
The 2019 edition of the PositiveNaija Essay Competition, themed “The Value of the Life of a Nigerian!” had no finalist and winner – with 57 entries received.
The 2018 edition, themed “The Love of a Nigerian!” was won by Miss Akunna James-Ibe – with 77 entries received.
The 2017 edition, which was the first edition, themed “How Great Is Nigeria!” was won by Mr. Olawale Lekan Christopher – with 46 entries received.
“We live in a thinker’s world, thinkers rule the world.”
– Bishop David Oyedepo
PositiveNaija is a multimedia news, information and forum platform, with the vision of having the most reliable platform for informing the world of the truly impactful, positive, valuable, inspiring, educative and worthy updates associated with Nigeria and Nigerians globally based on consistent objectivity and excellence. The aim is to positively – inspire, educate and redefine the standards of Nigeria’s values based system.
As a human-centered enterprise, the mission of PositiveNaija is to continuously strive towards creating a good, well-informed and empathetic society for Nigeria and Nigerians through news management and impactful initiatives.
