Labour Party Launches ₦2.8m Essay Competition for Abia Students, Offers ₦1m Top Prize

The Abia State chapter of the Labour Party has launched a statewide essay competition for secondary and tertiary institution students, with a total prize pool of ₦2.8 million, as part of efforts to encourage youth participation in governance and public policy.

The competition, unveiled on Thursday at the party’s state secretariat in Umuahia, is designed to stimulate critical thinking among young people while generating ideas that could contribute to the development of Abia State.

Speaking during the launch, the party’s State Secretary, Chuks Akamadu, described the initiative as the first of its kind by the party in Abia, saying it reflects the Labour Party’s commitment to civic education, democratic values and responsible political participation.

According to him, participants will write on the topic, “The New Abia and Need for Consolidation,” with the aim of assessing the achievements of the administration of Alex Otti and proposing ideas for sustaining the state’s development.

The competition is divided into two categories. In the secondary school category, the winner will receive ₦500,000, while the first and second runners-up will get ₦300,000 and ₦250,000, respectively.

For tertiary institution students, the overall winner will take home ₦1 million, while the first and second runners-up will receive ₦500,000 and ₦250,000, respectively. The party also announced consolation prizes for outstanding participants and special recognition for the schools attended by the winners.

Akamadu said essays must not exceed 1,500 words and should be submitted electronically to the party’s official email address on or before July 17, 2026, while winners will be honoured at an award ceremony scheduled for August 3, 2026.

He noted that the initiative underscores the Labour Party’s belief in empowering young people to contribute meaningfully to governance and policymaking.

“The future of Abia belongs to our young people. Through this competition, we are giving them a voice to contribute to the political and developmental conversation shaping our state,” Akamadu said.