……..At Annual Lecture
The 2025 Winners of the Annual Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School students in Nigeria were celebrated at the 24th Annual lecture held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday, 4th September, 2025.
The Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture and the National Essay Competition were part of the activities to mark the 80th birthday of the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo and sponsor of the essay competition.
The lecture entitled: ‘The Nigeria of our dream: Today’s reality and a responsible pathfinder’ brought together religious leaders, political leaders and well-wishers.
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For nineteen years, Dr. Mike Okonkwo has remained committed to this cause, using his God-given abilities, strength, and resources to bless the younger generation in their pursuit of academic excellence.
By encouraging students to develop strong reading and writing habits, Dr. Okonkwo, a man of faith who believes in the holistic development of humanity, has made significant strides in achieving his vision through the institutionalization of the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition.
The essay competition has sparked a heightened interest in research, extensive reading, and constructive writing among participating students. In addition to enkindling a passion for reading and writing, the competition provides students with a platform to express their views on crucial issues, impacting the socio-economic development of our nation.
It has also played a role in advancing ICT development in secondary schools, particularly within government-owned institutions. Winners from both government and private schools have been consistently rewarded both in-kind and cash gifts.
Dr. Okonkwo, the sponsor and visionary behind the programme, remains confident that Nigerian youths can compete at par with their peers in developed nations.
The Celebrant and General Overseer, the Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). Bishop Mike Okonkwo and the winner of Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School students, Davina Phillips, of Bloombreeds School, Port Harcourt, Rivers.
For coming top at the competition, fifteen-year-old Davina Phillips, of Bloombreeds School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, received a cheque of N1million, a laptop, plaque, while her school was awarded a set of computers.
Aniki Emmanuella of Babcock High School Ilishan Remo, Ogun State who won second place, received a cheque for N600, 000, a laptop, plaque, with her school also receiving a set of computers. For placing third in this year’s competition, Maryam Opeyemi Ilyas of Isawo Comprehensive High School, Wisdom Island, Ikorodu Lagos, got a cheque of N400, 000, a laptop, plaque, and a computer set for her school.
The remaining finalists also received a consolation prize of N50, 000 each.
Speaking on how winners emerged, the Chief Examiner, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo said that Davina Phillips of Bloombreeds School, moved from fourth position in the first round, to the first in the second round.
She had scored 70%, in the first round and 80% in the second to secure the final score of 75%.
The runners up, Aniki Emmanuella Onizi, of Babcock High School, with final result of 68%, had scored 75%, in the first round.
Maryam Opeyemi Ilyas, from Isawo Comprehensive High School came third with 66%, in the final score but had 71%, in the first round.
Prof. Ezeigbo said that, after going through the submissions, the best five essays were selected and a second physical round stage of the competition was organized on a different topic to see the extent that the students would confirm their abilities in a more regulated examination environment.
According to the Chief Examiner, the 2025 competition was good in the sense that the students demonstrated a clear understanding of the adult-themed issues at hand, consequently responded in writing.
“As usual a substantial number revealed evidence of collaboration with peers and copying from internet, text books and other sources. It was easy to reach this conclusion because the imprints of sources were uncreatively left behind in the bodies of the essays submitted,” he added.
Prof. Ezeigbo further emphasized that, “Similarly, we noticed the use of Artificial Intelligence in the generation of much of the content examined.
This shows that our students are doing well by consulting sources that have become inevitable in knowledge generation and transmission.
“However, teachers must let them know how to use material creatively and intelligently for the purposes of verification and validation,” she added.
The Competition was launched in 2004 as part of the celebrations commemorating the birthday of the Presiding Bishop of TREM.
Beyond the celebration, the competition was established to make a meaningful contribution to the development of the Nigerian educational sector.
BV.
