HELWA FOUNDATION ESSAY COMPETITION 2026 - FOR YOUNG NIGERIAN FEMALES

About

The HELWA Foundation National Essay Competition with a million naira prize pool invites young Nigerian women to share their ideas on the problems facing the country and the changes they would make if given the opportunity to lead.

This year's topic is "If I Were President for a Day…"

Participants are expected to identify an important issue affecting Nigeria and present a clear, realistic solution. Your essay should reflect your own views and explain how your proposed action could make a difference.

Who can apply

To be eligible, you must be a Nigerian woman aged 18 to 25 as at the closing date and currently enrolled as a student.

Essay requirements

Your essay must respond directly to the topic and identify a meaningful problem or issue affecting Nigeria.

You should explain what you would do about the issue if you were president for a day, why your proposed solution matters and how it could be implemented.

The essay must be original, must not exceed 1,500 words and must not have been published previously or submitted to another competition.

AI-generated or copied essays are not permitted. Applicants should write in their own words and ensure that the ideas and arguments presented genuinely reflect their thinking.

The 60-second vision video

In addition to the essay, applicants must submit a video of no more than 60 seconds explaining their vision.

The video should communicate your main idea clearly and be your original work. You do not need professional recording equipment; a smartphone is sufficient.

Submit a video link that the organisers can open and watch. Test the link before submitting your application to make sure it works.

Prizes

• First place: 500,000 naira.
• Second place: 300,000 naira.
• Third place: 200,000 naira.

How to apply

Visit the official HELWA Foundation essay competition page and complete the application according to the instructions provided.

Prepare your original essay and 60-second video before starting. Review your personal information, essay and video link carefully before submitting, as applications cannot be edited after submission.

Application link:

[https://wearehelwa.org/essay-competition](<https://wearehelwa.org/essay-competition

)

Application period

Applications opened on 1 October 2026.

Deadline: 15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM WAT.

Important notice

Only one submission is permitted per eligible participant. Late applications will not be accepted, and entries that fail to meet the eligibility or submission requirements may be disqualified.

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