By John Ikani
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is perfecting plans to reveal the winners of its annual national undergraduate essay contest.
The announcement will take place during an awards and prize-giving ceremony scheduled for September 20, 2023, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
As stated by Mr. Eyinimi Omorozi, CEO of Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited, who serves as the consultant for the event, “the ten national finalists are expected to arrive in Yenagoa on September 18, 2023, for the final phase of the academic exercise, which is the interactive assessment slated for September 19, 2023.”
This year’s competition, themed “Nigerian Content and the lessons from COVID-19,” marks the seventh edition of the esteemed NCDMB flagship event. It aims to foster academic excellence among Nigerian undergraduates in tertiary institutions and promote awareness of the Nigerian Content Policy.
Omorozi elaborated, “The primary goal of this academic exercise is to encourage Nigerian youth to cultivate local capacities and competencies, preparing them for active participation in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas industry. Additionally, it seeks to promote academic achievement.”
The grand finale of the 2023 edition is set for September 20, 2023, with an award and prize-giving ceremony in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The top three prizes are substantial, with the first-place winner receiving N1,000,000.00, the second-place winner receiving N700,000.00, and the third-place winner receiving N500,000.00. All ten finalists will also be rewarded with a laptop each.
The prestigious event will be held at the Lady Daima event center in Osiri, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state. The interactive assessment is scheduled for 9:00 AM on September 19, while the main award event on September 20 will commence at 10:30 AM.
In a flashback to the 2022 edition, Ayotomowa Elesho, a 200-level political science student at the University of Lagos, clinched the first prize with a cash reward of one million naira.