The UBA Foundation, through UBA Sierra Leone, on the 13th March,2026, officially launched the 2025/2026 edition of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, the launch ceremony, held at the conference hall of New Brookfield’s Hotel in Freetown, brought together key stakeholders in the education sector including officials from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), representatives of the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ), school administrators, pupils, and members of the media.
Officially launching the competition, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Honorable Conrad Sackey, disclosed this year’s essay topic: Gender- Based Violence in Schools: Causes, Consequences and Solutions, noting that the theme encourages pupils to engage critically with issues that affect society while promoting awareness and positive change, stressing that the theme encourages young people to think critically about societal challenges, while contributing to national conversations on building a safer and more inclusive society. He commended UBA for its sustained commitment to supporting education in Sierra Leone, noting that such initiatives go beyond financial support to shaping the future of the nation’s youth.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the bank’s leadership, the Chief Operating Officer(COO) of UBA Sierra Leone, Chiedu Ngene, conveyed greetings from the MD/CEO, Mohamed Alhajie Samoura, CEO of the UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, as well as the Board, Management, and staff of UBA Sierra Leone. He thanked the Minister and the entire team at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education for selecting this year’s essay topic and also extended thanks to the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice for their continued partnership and Coordination.
The COO, Ngene continued by highlighting the steady growth of the competition since its inception, revealing that between 2020 and 2023 the initiative received more than 1,500 essays from pupils representing over 500 schools nationwide. He added that beyond the numbers, the most inspiring outcome has been the life changing impact on participating students, with several past winners now studying at universities, including one currently serving as a Legal Officer at the bank.
Speaking on behalf of Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice, Board Member, Martin Michael, described the organization as an independent and nonpartisan one that is committed to promoting human rights and the rule of law in Sierra Leone. He commended the bank for sustaining and expanding the competition, and acknowledged the Ministry’s involvement in giving the initiative national credibility. According to Michael, the 2025/2026 edition will reach all 16 districts in the country through extensive school and media engagement.
The UBA National Essay Competition is part of the UBA Foundation’s education initiative aimed at fostering a culture of reading, research, and intellectual expression among secondary school pupils across Africa.
The Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA Sierra Leone, Sallieu Sesay, described the competition as more than just an academic contest. He noted that the initiative continues to serve as a powerful platform that inspires creativity, intellectual growth, and academic excellence among Sierra Leone’s young people.
The event concluded with appreciation from the Project Coordinator at ILRAJ, Fatima Forna, who thanked the UBA Foundation through UBA Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, and all partners for their support in making the initiative possible
