By Elizabeth Punsu, Kumasi
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has, over the past 10 years, invested approximately US$400,000 in organising its annual flagship educational programme, the National Essay Competition (NEC), for senior high school students across the country.
In total, US$27,000 has been awarded to 27 students over the past nine years through this initiative.
Speaking to journalists at the launch of the 10th anniversary of the NEC in Kumasi, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA, Henry Nii Dottey, explained that the bank is spending so much due to its commitment to developing the human capital of the African continent.
“The best way to develop Africa is by investing in its human capital. We believe that the foundation for this development starts with young people, nurturing their thinking abilities. This is why we introduced the National Essay Competition in Ghana 10 years ago.
We’ve supported 27 students with over US$27,000 in prize money. Altogether, we have invested over US$400,000 in organising the NEC, considering both the prize money and the logistics involved in running the competition over the past decade,” he mentioned.
Mr. Dottey further emphasised the bank’s commitment to Africa’s growth. “We don’t believe anyone else will come from outside to develop Africa’s resources for us, which is why we’re focused on education. By investing in young people, we are investing in their future and helping to develop the continent,” he said.
The first winner of the competition 10 years ago, Mr. Dottey mentioned, is now a medical doctor working at the KNUST Hospital; and that makes UBA incredibly proud. It shows the positive impact the project is making, which is why they continue to support this initiative.
Tackling the ‘galamsey’ menace
As part of UBA’s efforts to support environmental sustainability and reduce the impact of illegal mining commonly known as ‘galamsey,’ Mr. Dottey announced that the theme for this year’s NEC would focus on climate change and environmental sustainability. Students are expected to write essays that explore solutions to combating environmental degradation in the country.
“One of the key pillars of the UBA Foundation is environmental preservation. We all know the negative effects of climate change, particularly in Africa, and the devastating impact of galamsey on our environment. We believe this is a critical issue and we couldn’t have chosen a more relevant topic.
“We may not be able to take to the streets and protest against galamsey, but we believe we can contribute to the fight through education. By engaging young people in this way, we hope to spark ideas for improving our environment. That’s why we’ve asked the students to write about climate change and how they, as the future leaders of Ghana, can help improve environmental sustainability,” he said.
The Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Dr. William Amankra Appiah, commended UBA for its significant contribution to education during his speech at the launch. He noted that the initiative would provide students with an excellent opportunity to showcase their writing and cognitive skills.
About the NEC
This year’s UBA National Essay Competition is open to all senior high school students in the country. Entries must be submitted by December 10. The best 12 students will be selected to write a final essay under strict supervision, and the top three winners will be announced.
Each of the 12 finalists will receive a laptop computer. The ultimate winner will receive US$5,000, the second-place winner will be awarded US$3,000, and the third-place winner will receive US$2,000 to support their tertiary education at any university of their choice in Africa.
