Labour Party Abia Essay Competition offers ₦2.8 million in prizes to secondary and tertiary students to encourage civic participation and policy ideas
The Abia State chapter of the Labour Party has launched a statewide essay competition with cash prizes worth ₦2.8 million for secondary school and tertiary institution students, saying the initiative is designed to encourage youth participation in governance and inspire fresh ideas for the state’s development.
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The competition, unveiled on Thursday at the party’s secretariat in Umuahia, is expected to provide a platform for young people to contribute policy recommendations while promoting civic education and democratic values.
Speaking at the launch, the Abia State Secretary of the Labour Party, Barrister Chuks Akamadu, described the initiative as the first of its kind by the party in the state.
Akamadu said the competition reflects the party’s commitment to nurturing responsible citizenship and giving young people an opportunity to participate in conversations about governance.
“The competition aligns with the Labour Party’s commitment to promoting equal opportunity, social justice, civic education and responsible political participation,” he said.
“The exercise seeks to stimulate intellectual engagement among young Abians while generating practical ideas and policy recommendations that could contribute to governance and development.
“We are doing this because the Labour Party is a political party that is alive to its responsibilities in a democratic society. We are committed to educating citizens, promoting democratic values and encouraging greater youth participation in the political process.”
The essay topic is “The New Abia and Need for Consolidation,” with participants expected to assess the progress made under the administration of Governor Alex Otti and suggest ways to sustain the state’s development.
According to Akamadu, the competition is divided into two categories to accommodate both secondary school and tertiary institution students.
In the secondary school category, the winner will receive ₦500,000, while the second and third-placed entrants will receive ₦300,000 and ₦250,000 respectively.
For tertiary institution students, the overall winner will receive ₦1 million, while the second and third prizes are ₦500,000 and ₦250,000 respectively.
The party also announced that outstanding participants outside the top three would receive consolation prizes, while the schools attended by the prize winners would be recognised for supporting academic excellence.
Entries must not exceed 1,500 words and should be submitted electronically to the party’s official email address on or before July 17, 2026.
The winners are expected to be announced during an award ceremony scheduled for August 3.
Akamadu commended Governor Otti’s administration for what he described as significant progress over the past three years, saying the government’s achievements inspired the initiative.
“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,” he said.
The competition comes as political parties and civic groups increasingly explore non-electoral initiatives to engage young Nigerians, particularly through education and public policy discussions.
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The Labour Party said it hopes the programme will encourage critical thinking among students while strengthening civic participation and democratic culture in Abia State.
