UBA Foundation NEC 2026 Inspires Young Voices
24th August 2026
There is something special about watching a young person stand before a room, share an idea, and realise that people are listening.
That was the beauty of the 5th Edition of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition (NEC) 2026.
What started with 289 essays in 2020 has grown into a national platform that received 518 essays in 2026, bringing the cumulative number of essays received since 2020 to 1,759.
Behind every essay was a young person who took the time to think, write, hope and believe that their voice mattered. And it did.
A Competition Built Around Young Voices. The UBA Foundation NEC is more than an essay competition.
It gives young Sierra Leoneans a chance to express themselves, share their ideas and speak about issues that affect their lives, schools and communities.
For NEC 2026, the journey began with a topic that touched on an issue many young people and communities continue to face: “Gender-Based Violence in Schools: Its Causes, Consequences and Solutions.”
The topic gave participants the opportunity to look at the causes of gender-based violence, understand its impact on students and suggest practical ways to create safer schools.
It was more than a writing exercise. It was an invitation for young people to think about safety, dignity, equality and the kind of school environment every child deserves.
From there, the competition moved through screening and evaluation, bringing together some of the strongest young writers from across the country.
From the Initial Essay to the Semi-Final. The first stage attracted hundreds of entries from participating districts, UBA branches, ILRAJ and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE).
A total of 518 essays were received. The essays went through an initial screening process to verify eligibility and required documentation.
419 essays were confirmed eligible.
99 essays were classified as non-eligible due to incomplete documentation and other eligibility requirements.
From the eligible entries, the competition moved forward to the Top 24 Semi-Finalists.
Semi-Final Topic. The semi-finalists were challenged to think about another issue shaping the future of education:
“Technology is changing the way students learn. Discuss how technology can improve education and some of the challenges it may create for students.”
This topic required the young writers to look at both the opportunities and challenges technology brings to education.
Could technology make learning easier?
Could it give students access to more information?
Could it also create distractions, inequality or other challenges?
The semi-finalists had to think critically and make their voices heard.
The Final Question: What Kind of World Will We Leave Behind?
For the final stage, the focus moved from the classroom to the wider world.
Final Topic
“Young people will inherit the world we create today. Discuss the role young people can play in protecting the environment and fighting climate change.”
It was a powerful question for a competition built around young voices.
The finalists were asked to think about the future they will inherit and, more importantly, what they can do today to help shape that future.
The topic challenged them to look beyond themselves and consider their responsibility to their communities, their country and the planet.
These were not simply essay topics.
They were conversations about the kind of future young people want to see.
A National Journey Across Sierra Leone. The 2026 competition brought together young writers from 16 participating districts, making the NEC a truly national platform.
The participating districts were:
Eastern Region: Kailahun, Kenema, Kono,
Northern Region: Bombali, Falaba, Koinadugu, Tonkolili District,
North West Region: Kambia, Karene District, Port Loko District,
Southern Region: Bo District, Bonthe District Moyamba District, Pujehun District
Western Area Urban District and Western Area Rural District.
From these communities, young writers brought different experiences, different perspectives and different ideas to one national platform.
From hundreds of submissions, the competition moved through screening, marking, selection and the semi-final stage before the strongest writers advanced to the final.
Making it to the Top 24 was already a major achievement.
These young writers carried the hopes of their schools, families and communities. They came from different backgrounds and different parts of Sierra Leone, but they shared one thing:
They were willing to use their voices.
And Then Came the Final Moment
The atmosphere was filled with anticipation.
The finalists had come a long way.
The judges had a difficult task.
And everyone waited for the moment when the results would finally be announced.
Then came the names.
Winner — Jedediah Rolyn Williams 16 years of age
The Sierra Leone Grammar School
1st Runner-Up — Sia Mary Destiny Saquee 17 years of age
Cluny Free the Children Secondary School
2nd Runner-Up — Alhaji Saidu Mohamed 13 years of age
The International School Limited
Congratulations, champions!
Your achievement is something to be proud of. You did not just write an essay. You showed courage, discipline, creativity and confidence.
You believed that your ideas were worth sharing and today, those ideas have taken you to the top.
But This Story Is Bigger Than Three Winners
There were 518 essays. That means there were hundreds of young people with something to say.
And that is worth celebrating.
To every pupil who participated but did not make it to the final, please do not see this as the end.
Maybe this was your first competition.
Maybe you were nervous.
Maybe you did not get the result you wanted.
That’s okay.
Learn from it. Try again. Write again. Speak again. Believe in yourself again.
One competition does not define your ability. Your journey is much bigger than one result.
From 289 to 1,759: A Growing Legacy
The numbers tell a powerful story.
In 2020, the competition received 289 essays.
In 2026, it received 518 essays.
Since the competition began in Sierra Leone, a cumulative 1,759 essays have been received.
That growth is about more than numbers. It shows that more young people are willing to think, write, question and express themselves.
It shows that when young people are given an opportunity, they will step forward.
And that is why the UBA Foundation NEC matters.
It creates a platform where a pupil from one school can sit alongside pupils from across the country and simply say:
“This is what I think.”
“This is what I believe.”
“This is my voice.”
What Comes Next?
The trophies will eventually find their place on shelves.
The photographs will become memories.
The applause will fade.
But the confidence gained, the lessons learned and the dreams inspired can stay for a lifetime.
Today, we celebrate Jedeiah, Sia and Alhaji. But we also celebrate every pupil who participated. We celebrate the teachers who encouraged them. We celebrate the parents who supported them. We celebrate the judges who gave their time and experience. And we celebrate the partners who helped make the competition possible.
Most importantly, we celebrate a generation of young Sierra Leoneans who reminded us that our country has no shortage of ideas, talent and hope.
The Future Is Being Written Today
The young people who participated in NEC 2026 will grow into tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, educators, writers, innovators and changemakers.
The ideas they shared today may become the solutions we need tomorrow.
That is why we must continue to give young people a voice.
We must continue to listen to them. We must continue to create opportunities for them. Because when we invest in young minds, we invest in the future of Sierra Leone.
Congratulations to our NEC 2026 champions.
Congratulations to every finalist.
And congratulations to every young writer who took the courage to participate.
Keep writing.
Keep learning.
Keep asking questions.
Keep speaking.
Keep believing.
Because the essay may have ended, but your story is only beginning.
Celebrating Young Minds. Inspiring Brighter Futures.
UBA, It’s all about U.
