UBA Foundation opens 2026 essay competition to promote literacy among SHS students

The UBA Foundation has opened applications for its 2026 National Essay Competition, seeking to strengthen the writing skills, creativity and critical thinking of senior high school students across Ghana amid concerns about declining literacy skills among young people. The competition offers students an opportunity to develop their writing abilities, express their ideas and compete for financial support towards their tertiary education.

Regional Head of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA West Africa, Henry Nii Dottey, said the initiative formed part of the foundation’s efforts to support education and nurture the creative potential of young people. He said the foundation had observed a decline in the literary skills of young people and was using the competition to encourage more students to develop their writing abilities.

“This is one of our support initiatives to society. We’ve observed that the literary skills of our young people keep declining. So, one of the things we aim to do is to help improve their creative skills by getting them to write,” he said. Mr Dottey said the competition was open to eligible senior high school students nationwide, with applications for the 2026 edition scheduled to close on November 13.

He encouraged students to apply through the UBA Ghana website, stressing that the competition offered an opportunity to strengthen their skills while securing financial assistance for further education. “The competition is open from now until November 13. We want to encourage everybody watching that once you’re in a secondary school in Ghana, you’re eligible.

There’s good money to support your tertiary education. You have to apply through the UBA Ghana website,” he said. Previous winner urges students to participate For Stephanie Ewuraabena Aidoo, a winner in the 2024 edition, the competition provided benefits beyond financial support for her university education. She said the experience helped her recognise the value of her voice and build confidence in expressing her ideas.

“Aside from the major grants from the UBA Foundation to support my university education, I have learnt to value the power of my voice. I have become more confident in expressing my ideas,” she said. She encouraged students to participate rather than dismiss their chances of winning before applying. “So, to every high school student out there, I’ll encourage you to try.

A winning essay begins with trying. Don’t disqualify yourself by thinking you won’t be chosen,” she added. The competition has also attracted interest from students who attended a programme promoting the initiative. Emmanuella, Girls’ Prefect of Achimota Senior High School, said listening to speakers at the event had inspired her and encouraged other students to take advantage of similar opportunities.

“The programme has been amazing to the very end. Having to sit through and listen to the encouraging words from every speaker has inspired me. So, I encourage every other student out there that it is necessary,” she said. The UBA Foundation says the competition is part of its broader commitment to education and youth development, with the aim of encouraging more young people to embrace reading and writing and build the communication skills needed to contribute to Africa’s development.