NCF GIFTS OVER ONE MILLION NAIRA TO STUDENTS AS WINNERS EMERGED IN THE 15^TH EDITION OF THE ANNUAL NCF/AMB ADUKE ALAKIJA NATIONAL SCHOOLS ART AND ESSAY COMPETITION

Twelve winners have emerged in the 15^th edition of the NCF/Ambassador Aduke Alakija Memorial National Schools’ Art & Essay competition with the theme “Only One Earth”.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has announced 12 intelligent and creative students as winners among the students that 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 & Essay competition in honour of one of its founding trustees, late Ambassador Aduke Alakija.

The annual National Schools’ Art & 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 of age, 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 1^st positions received sum of one hundred and fifty thousand naira each, 2^nd position received sum of one hundred thousand naira each, while the 3^rd place received fifty thousand naira 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% geographic spread participation – with over 500 schools.

The winners are Adegbola Marvellous Toluwani, 1^st place in the Junior category of the essay competition; Alawode Abdul-lateef, 2^nd place in the Junior category of the essay competition; Oyelola  Moyosola, 3^rd  place in the Junior category of the essay competition; Ayodele Mercy Kehinde, 1^st place in the senior category of the essay competition; Ademuluyi Oreoluwa, 2^nd place in the senior category of the essay competition; Precious Nneoma, 3^rd place in the senior category of the essay competition; Udoh Destiny Godwin, 1^st  place in the Junior category of the Art competition; Subair Destiny, 2^nd  place in the Junior category of the Art competition; Usman Amirat, 3^rd place in the Junior category of the Art competition; Adesina James, 1^st  place in the senior category of the Art competition; Giwa Omolabake Naomi, 2^nd  place in the senior category of the Art competition; Opayemi Emmanuel, 3^rd place in the senior category of the Art competition.

(L-R) Project Manager, Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC), Mr. Adedamola Ogunsesan; 1st position Essay Competition, Senior Category, Kehinde Ayodele, Vetland Senior Grammar School, Agege, Lagos; 1st position Art Competition, Junior Category, Destiny Udoh, Havilah Gold Schools, Epe, Lagos; 1st position Essay competition, Junior Category, Toluwanimi Adegbola, Vetland Junior Grammar School, Agege, Lagos; Project Coordinator for NCF/Amb Aduke Alakija National Art & Essay Competition, Mrs. Adedamola Ogutuga, at the award & prize giving ceremony at LCC Lagos on Wednesday, 30th November 2022.