Twelve winners have emerged in the 15th edition of the NCF/Ambassador Aduke Alakija Memorial National Schools’ Art and Essay competition, which has the theme “Only One Earth”.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has announced 12 intelligent and creative students as winners among the their colleagues who participated in competition that was widely applied for across the nation.
Environmental education is a key focus of the NCF in reaching the Nigerian students and youths across all levels of education, hence the establishment of the annual National Schools’ Art and Essay competition in honour of one of its founding trustees, late Ambassador Aduke Alakija.
The annual National Schools’ Art and Essay competition was first held in 1988 as part of NCF’s education and awareness programme in the formal school system. The art competition is open to anyone between 5 – 18 years old, while the essay competition is open to anyone between 12-18 years, in full-time education.
The entries should be endorsed by the Principal/Head Teacher of the participants’ school and submitted to the state Ministries of Education for initial assessment. The best five entries in each of the category are submitted by the 36 state Ministries of Education and the Federal Capital Territory to NCF for the final assessment.
Winners were decided by NCF’s team of judges, who are professionals in the field of arts and literature. The first received N150,000 each, second got N100,000 each, while the third place received N50,000 each.
The National Schools’ Art and Essay Competition is a veritable educational and advocacy tool used in engaging youths’ interest in conservation and environmental issues. Started in 1988, the annual competition has grown from participation of one state to 32 states in 2019, representing approximately 90 percent geographic spread participation – with over 500 schools.
The winners are Adegbola Marvellous Toluwani, first place in the junior category of the essay competition; Alawode Abdul-lateef, second in the Junior category; Oyelola Moyosola, third in the junior category; Ayodele Mercy Kehinde, first in the senior category; Ademuluyi Oreoluwa, second in the senior category; Precious Nneoma and third in the senior category.
In the Art competition, Udoh Destiny Godwin finished first in the junior category; Subair Destiny, second in the junior category; Usman Amirat, third in the junior category of the Art competition, Adesina James, fifth in the senior category; Giwa Omolabake Naomi, second place in the senior category ; Opayemi Emmanuel, third in the senior category.
