Three brilliant students have emerged as the overall winners of the 2025 Mike Okonkwo Annual Essay Competition for Secondary School students in Nigeria.
The winners are: Fifteen-year-old Davina Phillips of Bloombreeds School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, 16-year-old Aniki Emmanuella Onizi of Babcock High School, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State and 15-year-old Maryam Opeyemi Ilyas of Isawo Comprehensive High School, Wisdom Island, Ikorodu, Lagos.
Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, the Chief Examiner, explained that Davina Phillips of Bloombreeds School, Port Harcourt, 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 tally of 75%.
Runner-up, Aniki Emmanuella Onizi, of Babcock High School, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, with a final tally of 68%, had scored 75% in the first round.
Maryam Opeyemi Ilyas, from Isawo Comprehensive High School, came third with 66% in the final tally but had 71% in the first round.
Prof. Ezeigbo revealed that, after going through the submissions, the best five essays were selected, and a second physical round stage of the competition was organised on a different topic to see the extent to which the students would confirm their abilities in a more regulated examination environment.
However, the final results show, Davina Phillips, came top, with Aniki Emmanuella Onizi, as runner-up and Maryam Opeyemi llyas, taking the third position.
According to the Chief Examiner, the 2025 competition was good because the students demonstrated a clear understanding of the adult-themed issues at hand, and consequently responded in writing.
Ezeigbo said, “As usual, a substantial number revealed evidence of collaboration with peers and copying from the internet, textbooks 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.”
Prof. Ezeigbo further emphasised, “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 the material creatively and intelligently for the purposes of verification and validation.
For their achievements, Davina Philips will receive a cheque for N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) and a laptop for herself, while her school will be awarded a set of computers.
Aniki Emmanuella, who secured second place, will take home a cheque for N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and a laptop for herself, with her school also receiving a set of computers.
The 3rd place winner in this year’s competition, Maryam Opeyemi Ilyas will be awarded with a cheque for N400,000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) and a laptop for herself, and a computer set for her school. The remaining finalists will each receive a consolation prize of N50,000.
For coming tops, Davina Phillips, Aniki Emmanuella and Maryam Opeyemi and their schools, will be presented with their prizes at the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture Series at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
The Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition was launched in 2004 as part of the celebrations commemorating the birthday of the Presiding Bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo (MFR).
Beyond the celebration, the competition was established to make a meaningful contribution to the development of the Nigerian educational sector. 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. Mike Okonkwo, a man of faith who believes in the holistic development of humanity, has made significant strides in achieving his vision through the institutionalisation 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 with both in-kind and cash gifts.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo, the Chief Sponsor and Visionary behind the programme, remains confident that Nigerian youths can compete on par with their peers in developed nations.
