Nigerian Army COAS Literary Competitions 2027: Win Up to ₦2 Million in Essay, Poetry and Art Contest

The Nigerian Army has opened applications for the 2027 Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Literary Competitions, offering Nigerian students an opportunity to showcase their creativity in essay writing, poetry and visual arts while competing for cash prizes of up to ₦2 million.

The competition, which is organised by the Nigerian Army, is designed to encourage creative expression, critical thinking and meaningful engagement among young Nigerians.

The fourth edition is themed “Building Mutual Trust Between the Nigerian Army and the Citizens as a Foundation for National Security.” Participants are expected to explore the theme through their chosen competition category.

Competition Categories

The 2027 COAS Literary Competitions features three categories:

1. Essay Writing Competition

Students are invited to develop original essays based on the competition theme.

The word-count requirements are:

• Primary and secondary school students: A maximum of 2,000 words.
• Tertiary institution students: Between 3,000 and 5,000 words.

2. Poetry Competition

Students interested in poetry can submit original poems addressing the competition theme.

• Poems may be written in any genre.
• Entries must be written in English.
• Each poem must not exceed 200 words.

3. Art Competition

Students with artistic abilities can participate by submitting original visual artwork.

• Entries must be paintings or drawings.
• Artwork must relate to the competition theme.
• Each submission must include a short caption.
• Previously published artwork is not eligible.

Eligibility Requirements

The competition is open to Nigerian students in primary schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

The eligible age groups are:

• Primary School: Nigerian children aged 5–11 years.
• Secondary School: Nigerian students aged 12–17 years.
• Tertiary Institutions: Nigerian students aged 18–24 years.

Interested participants should select the appropriate educational category when submitting their entries.

Benefits and Cash Prizes

Winners across the three competition categories will receive cash prizes based on their educational levels.

The prize breakdown is as follows:

Primary School Category

• First Place: ₦1,000,000
• Second Place: ₦750,000
• Third Place: ₦500,000

Secondary School Category

• First Place: ₦1,500,000
• Second Place: ₦1,200,000
• Third Place: ₦750,000

Tertiary Institution Category

• First Place: ₦2,000,000
• Second Place: ₦1,500,000
• Third Place: ₦1,000,000

How to Apply

Interested and eligible students should follow these steps:

1. Visit the Nigerian Army Directorate of Civil-Military Affairs website.
2. Read the official competition guidelines carefully.
3. Select the category they wish to participate in: essay writing, poetry or art.
4. Prepare an original entry that meets the requirements for the selected category.
5. Complete the online submission process and upload the required work as instructed.

Applicants are advised to review the official guidelines for complete submission instructions before applying.

Application Deadline 31 May 2027.

Interested students are encouraged to prepare their entries early and ensure that all submissions meet the specified requirements before the deadline.

For more information and application details, visit the official competition portal:

https://dcma.army.mil.ng/