Young Ekiti indigenes between the ages of 18 and 35 have been invited to participate in the Ekiti State at 30 Youth Essay Competition, with the winner set to receive ₦1.5 million, a laptop and a certificate.

The competition is one of the activities marking the 30th anniversary of Ekiti State’s creation and is designed to give young people an opportunity to present their ideas for the state’s future.

Participants are required to write on the theme, “Ekiti at 30: My Dream and Agenda for the Next Thirty Years.”

The competition calls on applicants to look towards 2056 and develop practical proposals for advancing Ekiti’s economy, education system, healthcare, businesses, communities and institutions over the next three decades.

Eligible participants are Ekiti State indigenes aged 18 to 35. They can enter the competition whether they currently reside within Ekiti State or elsewhere.

The organisers are seeking original, forward-looking and solution-driven essays. Entries should focus on the participant’s vision for Ekiti in 2056 and outline practical measures that could be taken from today to achieve that vision.

Applicants may explore one or more areas connected to the state’s development, including agriculture and food security; education and human capital development; technology and innovation; entrepreneurship and job creation; arts, culture and tourism; infrastructure and urban development; healthcare and social protection; governance and civic responsibility; and environmental sustainability.

Participants have been encouraged to go beyond identifying existing challenges by presenting practical ideas that can be implemented.

Each submission must be an original essay of between 1,000 and 1,500 words. The work is expected to be forward-looking, practical, solution-driven and focused on Ekiti’s development by 2056.

The competition offers cash prizes to the top three participants, while seven additional finalists will receive awards.

The first-place winner will receive ₦1,500,000, a laptop and a certificate. The second-place winner will receive ₦1,000,000, a laptop and a certificate, while the third-place winner will receive ₦750,000, a laptop and a certificate.

Each of the seven other finalists will receive ₦100,000 and a Certificate of Distinction.

Beyond the financial awards, the official Ekiti State Government announcement states that the top 10 essays will be edited and published in a commemorative publication.

The finalists will also be invited to the Ekiti Youth Futures Forum, scheduled for December. Ideas emerging from the competition will be compiled into a proposed Youth Agenda for Ekiti 2056, which will be presented to the Ekiti State Government.

Entries opened on September 11, 2026, while the deadline for submissions is September 28, 2026.

Winners will be announced and presented with their prizes at the Ekiti at 30 Future Summit on October 7, 2026, in Ado-Ekiti.

Eligible Ekiti indigenes are required to prepare an original 1,000–1,500-word essay and submit it through the official competition application portal.

Apply here: Ekiti State at 30 Youth Essay Competition Application

Additional competition information is available on the Ekiti State Government official website.

The key details are as follows: the competition is the Ekiti State at 30 Youth Essay Competition, with the theme “Ekiti at 30: My Dream and Agenda for the Next Thirty Years.” Eligibility is limited to Ekiti indigenes aged 18–35, while essays must be 1,000–1,500 words.

The first prize is ₦1.5 million plus a laptop and certificate; second prize is ₦1 million plus a laptop and certificate; and third prize is ₦750,000 plus a laptop and certificate. The seven other finalists will each receive ₦100,000 and a Certificate of Distinction.

Entries opened on September 11, 2026, and close on September 28, 2026. The winners’ presentation is scheduled for October 7, 2026, at Ado-Ekiti.

Source: MSME Africa Online