Teenage OAU Scholar Tops NCDMB Essay Contest on Energy Transition
A 16-year-old medical student at Obafemi Awolowo University, Akande Oyinkansola Josephine, has taken the top spot in the 2025 National Undergraduate Essay Competition organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, after outperforming candidates from universities across the country.
Akande, a 200-level student, received ₦1 million, a new laptop, and a commemorative plaque at Thursday’s grand finale held at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
This year’s contest asked participants to address “Sustaining Local Content Policies in the Transitioning Oil and Gas Industry.”
Sonuga Sultan Opeyemi, a 23-year-old medical student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, finished second and earned ₦700,000, a laptop and a plaque, while Aguigwe Precious Amarachi, a 19-year-old Computer Science undergraduate at the University of Uyo, secured third place and won ₦500,000 and a laptop.
Speaking at the event, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Felix Ogbe—represented by Dr Obinna Ezeobi—said the competition had become one of the Board’s leading youth-focused programmes, aimed at broadening national appreciation of local content and nurturing home-grown expertise.
He explained that the annual challenge strengthens critical thinking among undergraduates and helps them understand how local content contributes to job creation, industrial development and national security.
Ogbe added that the initiative supports the Board’s 10-Year Strategic Roadmap, which he noted had reached 56 per cent implementation, and ties in with new projects such as the Back to the Creek Initiative, designed to identify and groom indigenous talent.
Chairman of the ceremony and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Professor Barclays Ayakoroma, praised the Board for sustaining the competition but expressed disappointment that none of Bayelsa State’s universities made it into the final shortlist.
He advised the organisers to consider introducing consolation prizes for future finalists.
Competition consultant Eyinimi Omorozi commended the top 10 students for their discipline and originality, saying the Board had consistently used the platform to encourage academic excellence and intellectual growth.
The finalists emerged from a shortlist of 50 entries submitted by undergraduates nationwide. Those who completed the top 10 were Folayemi Idowu (OAU); Usman Tahiru (Ahmadu Bello University); Maryam Hazmat and Omoshalewa Ogunleke (Usmanu Danfodiyo University); Isaiah Iyah (University of Uyo); Lawal Abdullah (Baze University, Abuja); and Lawal Olayemi (Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti).
The event drew students, academics and industry stakeholders, and closed with NCDMB’s renewed commitment to sustaining the competition as a national platform for intellectual development and capacity building.
