Entries Open for Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition 2026
Entries have officially opened for the 2026 edition of the Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition, targeting secondary school students nationwide. This annual event, organized by The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) International Headquarters in Lagos, aims to foster intellectual engagement and critical thinking among young Nigerians.
Competition Details and Submission Guidelines
According to a statement from TREM's Corporate Affairs Department, the entry period commenced on March 16 and will conclude on June 30. Students are required to submit essays on the topic: "Democracy at the crossroads: Electoral credibility, judicial integrity and the future of Nigeria." Submissions can be sent via email to essay@trem.org or as hard copies delivered to TREM International Headquarters at Anthony Oke Bus Stop, Gbagada, Lagos.
Prizes and Rewards for Winners
The competition offers substantial incentives to encourage participation. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of N800,000, a laptop, and a plaque, with their school awarded a desktop computer and plaque. The first runner-up earns N500,000, a laptop, and a plaque, while the second runner-up gets N400,000, a laptop, and a plaque. Both runners-up's schools will also receive desktop computers.
Objectives and Historical Impact
Since its inception in 2004, the Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition has attracted over 20,000 participants, serving as a vital platform for intellectual discourse on national issues. It aims to develop good writing skills, foster critical thinking, and encourage students to engage with trending topics through academic narratives. This initiative is part of Bishop Mike Okonkwo's corporate social responsibility efforts, tied to his yearly birthday celebration, and reflects his commitment to empowering Nigerian youth.
Broader Philanthropic Efforts
Beyond the essay competition, Bishop Mike Okonkwo is a dedicated advocate for the less privileged. He founded the Empowerment for the Less Privileged (ELP) Foundation, a non-governmental organization that alleviates hardship through various programs, including hospital donations, free vocational training centers, preparatory schools for secondary students, health awareness campaigns, and scholarships for talented students. Additionally, through the Women of Global Impact initiative with his wife, he sponsors free cervical screening for rural women and provides yearly food and clothing donations to less-privileged women, especially widows.
