More Than an Essay: UBA Foundation Celebrates Young Voices at NEC 2026

The 5th Edition of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition (NEC) has celebrated the creativity, confidence and ideas of young Sierra Leoneans, providing students with a national platform to express their views on issues affecting their lives and the future of their country.

The 2026 competition received 518 essays, bringing the cumulative number of submissions since the competition was introduced in Sierra Leone in 2020 to 1,759. The competition received 289 essays in its inaugural year.

Beyond the numbers, the competition provided hundreds of young people with an opportunity to think critically, write creatively and demonstrate that their voices matter.

Promoting Young Voices

The UBA Foundation NEC is designed to go beyond academic writing. It encourages young Sierra Leoneans to examine important social issues, develop their ideas and propose solutions to challenges facing their communities and country.

For the 2026 edition, participants were initially asked to write on the topic:

“Gender-Based Violence in Schools: Its Causes, Consequences and Solutions.”

The topic encouraged students to examine the causes and consequences of gender-based violence while proposing practical measures to create safer and more inclusive learning environments.

A total of 518 essays were submitted during the initial stage. Following eligibility screening, 419 essays were confirmed eligible, while 99 were deemed ineligible because of incomplete documentation or failure to meet other requirements.

From the eligible submissions, 24 students advanced to the semi-final stage.

Semi-Finalists Tackle Technology in Education

At the semi-final stage, the students were challenged to examine the growing influence of technology on education.

The topic asked:

“Technology is changing the way students learn. Discuss how technology can improve education and some of the challenges it may create for students.”

The semi-finalists were expected to explore both the opportunities and challenges associated with technology, including improved access to information and learning resources, as well as concerns such as distraction and unequal access to digital tools.

Finalists Focus on Climate Change

The final stage shifted attention from the classroom to the wider environment, challenging finalists to consider their responsibilities as future leaders.

The final topic was:

“Young people will inherit the world we create today. Discuss the role young people can play in protecting the environment and fighting climate change.”

The topic encouraged the finalists to reflect on environmental protection, climate change and the role young people can play in building a more sustainable future.

Young Writers From Across Sierra Leone

The 2026 competition brought together students from communities across Sierra Leone, including the Eastern, Northern, North-Western, Southern and Western regions.

Participating districts included Kailahun, Kenema, Kono, Bombali, Falaba, Koinadugu, Tonkolili, Kambia, Karene, Port Loko, Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba, Pujehun, Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural.

The diversity of participants gave the competition a truly national character, bringing together students with different experiences and perspectives.

Winners Announced

After several stages of screening, marking and evaluation, three students emerged as the top performers of NEC 2026.

Winner: Jedediah Rolyn Williams, 16, of The Sierra Leone Grammar School.

1st Runner-Up: Sia Mary Destiny Saquee, 17, of Cluny Free the Children Secondary School.

2nd Runner-Up: Alhaji Saidu Mohamed, 13, of The International School Limited.

The winners were commended for demonstrating strong writing skills, creativity, confidence and critical thinking.

Celebrating Every Participant

While the spotlight fell on the three winners, the organisers emphasised that the achievement of NEC 2026 extends beyond the final rankings.

With 518 essays submitted, hundreds of young Sierra Leoneans had the opportunity to express their thoughts and engage with important national and global issues.

Students who did not make it to the final were encouraged to view the experience as part of their learning journey and to continue writing, learning and developing their confidence.

A Growing Legacy

The growth of the competition—from 289 essays in 2020 to 518 in 2026, with 1,759 submissions recorded cumulatively—demonstrates the increasing interest of young Sierra Leoneans in opportunities that allow them to express their ideas.

The UBA Foundation NEC has therefore become more than an essay competition. It has evolved into a platform for nurturing young thinkers, encouraging critical discussion and inspiring students to become future leaders and changemakers.

As the 2026 edition comes to a close, the trophies and certificates may become lasting memories, but the confidence, knowledge and experience gained by the participants could shape their journeys for years to come.

The UBA Foundation NEC 2026 celebrates not only its winners, but every student who took the courage to participate.

The essay may have ended, but for these young Sierra Leoneans, the story is only beginning.

Celebrating Young Minds. Inspiring Brighter Futures.

UBA — It’s all about U.