Government of Sierra Leone

Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE)

New England, Freetown and

United Bank for Africa Foundation (UBAF)

PRESS RELEASE

24^th November 2023

UBA Foundation 4^th Edition National Essay Competition

The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) and the United Bank for Africa Foundation (UBAF) today launch the 4^th Edition of the National Essay Competition for SSS pupils in Senior Secondary Schools across Sierra Leone. The essay competition offers an opportunity for pupils in examination classes to strengthen their critical thinking, civics, and other skillsets relevant for their growth. The winners will be given an opportunity to win a scholarship grant for their university education up to the limits of Le50,000 Le30,000 and Le20,000 for the first, second and third positions respectively.

NEC is a UBA Foundation Initiative that started in 2011 as part of UBA Group’s drive to improve the access to education for the under-privileged across Africa. This year will mark the 4th Edition of the National Essay Competition in Sierra Leone in conjunction with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE). In so doing, children across the country will be given an opportunity to participate in the life changing competition.

“UBA Foundation is committed to organising NEC annually to compliment the Sierra Leone government’s efforts in promoting quality education in the country” says the Acting MD/CEO UBA Sierra Leone Mohamed Alhajie Samoura.

Participants must submit their hand-written essays not later than 29^th December 2023 at 5:00 PM GMT at any of the 16 MBSSE district offices, at UBA Bank headquarters located at 15 Charlotte Street, Freetown, or at the bank’s branch locations anywhere in the country. All essays submitted must include the following details of the participant:

• Full name

• Age

• Town and districts

• School name

• Full name and telephone number of participant’s teacher

• Full name and telephone number of participant’s parent/guardian

• Participant’s essay, and the essay’s word count (number of words used in the essay)

All essays must be about the following topic: Substance abuse among youths in your community; explain the problems and the interventions that you wish to be implemented to tackle this menace in your community. 

The word count should be between 450 and 500 words, and all essays must have a title. The essays will be judged based on their structure, grammar, illustrations of ideas, and their creativity.

Essays submitted by participants at the 16 district levels will be marked by a panel of academic judges, who will be selected by the MBSSE and UBA. Announcement of the 12 finalists of the competition will be made over TV broadcast, radio and newspaper. The 12 national finalists will be contacted using the information provided in the application for further details and next steps.

Finalists will be supported to travel to Freetown with either their teacher, parent, or guardian to compete in the final round (travel, lodging and feeding of winners and their supervisors will be provided by organizers). Finalists will write a second essay, which will be evaluated for selecting the first, second and third place national winners that will get the scholarship grant while all the 12 Finalists who sufficiently defend their essays in a 5 minute interview with the judges and meet a cut off mark of 40% and above in the second rounds of essay will each receive a Laptop. The final round will be broadcast live on a TV Show.

All submissions must be clearly handwritten and not Typed. They can be submitted through one of the following methods:

• Email: cfcsierra-leone@ubagroup.com

• WhatsApp number: +23280419943/+23275142718
• Dropped off at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education District Offices or HEAD OFFICE (New England Ville, Inspectorate Office)

• Any UBA Sierra Leone Office

*DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY TO MORE THAN ONE PLACE OR MORE THAN ONE TIME!