By Ezaruku Draku Franklin

The United Bank for Africa – Uganda together with the ministry of education through its UBA foundation have launched the National Essay Competition, with a call on secondary school students to use the chance to improve on their writing and communication skills.

The National Essay competition is an education program introduced by the bank to equip students with good communication skills to position them for success in the professional world. The National Essay competition provides a competitive platform to develop the intellectual and writing abilities of senior secondary school students in Uganda.

Uganda joins Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal where the project is already being implemented

The competition will run under the topic “How did the COVID -19 pandemic affect you and what were your biggest lessons from it?” with students expected to write in their own handwriting a maximum of 750 words.

Mrs Mang Chioma, the UBA Uganda Managing Director/ CEO said the launch marks a new chapter for students in Uganda to improve on their writing skills as they prepare to join higher institutions of learning and prepare for work. She said many students graduate when they are not adequately prepared and have poor communication skills.

“United Bank for Africa is committed to the African youth and skilling them for future success. Which is why through the UBA Foundation we have launched the National Essay Competition.  We recognise the importance of good communication skills and through this competition, we hope to equip and prepare the students to excel and take up leadership roles in the future,” she said.

Mrs Chioma added that UBA has executed other Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to support the education sector such as the Read Africa Project, where the bank donates African novels to secondary schools across the country.

“This project encourages a reading culture at a young age and promotes African literature.   UBA through its foundation will therefore continue to give back to the communities using similar CSR initiatives,” she said.

Mr Kenneth Kisambira, the acting Executive Director said the essays will be received at the UBA Head office, branches, website and social media platforms. According to him the entries for the first phase will close on August 24, 2022 and thereafter, 10 students will be selected to compete in essay writing for the finals. He said the winners will be announced on September 9, 2022.

The winner will walk away with Shs3.5 million and a laptop, while the first and second runners’ ups will each walk away with a laptop and a certificate, while the remaining seven will receive various gift hampers.

Three finalists will emerge at the end of the exercise and they will win a scholarship of Shs3.5m and laptops at the grand finale on September 9^th, 2022.

The UBA National Essay competition was launched by the group in 2011 but this is the inaugural edition in Uganda

Ms. Angella Naddamba, representative from the Ministry of Education and sports who was the chief guest at the launch event said the ministry will support the programme and own the essays to ensure that there is continuity.

“This is a good initiative by the bank for students in Uganda. The Ministry of Education and sports is happy to partner with UBA Uganda on this project. We pledge our support to ensure that all students across the country are aware, participate and submit compelling essays,” she said

Naddamba also called on all teachers across the country to ensure full participation of their students in the essay competition. She said this competition will prepare the students for future opportunities which will come their ways.

“Essay writing promotes a culture of reading and writing which has been a gap. We want writing and reading to get to the bottom in senior one up to senior six. Learners must express themselves very well and one of the ways is such essay writing competitions,” she said.

She said writing enhances positive learning outcomes and apart from getting distinctions, it helps one to be able to express themselves and communicate effectively.

She said government is already implementing revised curriculum in lower secondary schools with emphasis on soft and hard skills for future survival.