Organisers of the annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay competition, on Tuesday, announced the commencement of entries for the 2024 edition of the competition.
The 2023 edition of the competition was won by Destiny Ike of Vik International School, Akere, Alagbado, Ogun State while Chibuzor Alexander of Archbishop Heerey Technical College, Ogidi, Anambra State came second.
A statement signed by Rev. (Mrs.) Oluwayomi Uteh, Corporate Services Director, stated that registration for the competition will commence on April 8 and end on June 15, 2024.
The theme for the 2024 edition is “Nigeria’s Pathways: Diagnosis and The Prescriptions”.
“For participation in the 19th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for secondary school students, the entry requirements include an essay of a maximum of 2000 words, a passport photograph of the student, full name, address, contact telephone number, class, school and name and the telephone contact of the principal.
“All Essay should be submitted in Word document format via email to essay@trem.org
“For this year, the star winner will go home with Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) cash price, a trophy, and a plaque while the school gets a desktop computer.
The first runner-up gets a cash prize of N250,000.00 with a plaque, while the school gets a desktop computer.
“The second runner-up gets an N100,000.00 cash prize and a plaque, while the school gets a desktop computer,” the statement added.
The competition is one of Dr. Mike Okonkwo’s Corporate Social Responsibility activities aimed at raising the standard in the educational sector in the country and at the same time sensitising the students by making them analytically minded to excel in their world by developing their ability to think through issues.
Also, the competition is lined up as part of the activities to mark the 79th Birthday of Dr. Mike Okonkwo, the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).
Over the years, the competition has been very successful in reshaping the students’ thought patterns and helping them develop problem-solving skills.
The Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition spans over a decade of developing and rewarding the writing skills of Nigerian youths towards national development.
The prizes for this year’s competition will be presented to the winners at the 23rd Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, which has been scheduled for Thursday, September 5th, 2024, at the Muson Centre (Shell Hall) by 10.00 a.m.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), a.k.a. Power in the Word, with over 200 branches in Nigeria and across the globe. He is an Apostle to this generation whose life has impacted millions around the world.
A father to many and a pastor to pastors across the globe, Dr Mike Okonkwo is also a dynamic conference speaker, crusade evangelist, a national spokesman for Nigeria, and an advocate of balanced Christianity.
As the host of ‘Power in the Word,’ a life-transforming television broadcast series, Dr. Okonkwo’s Holy Spirit-inspired insight into the Word of God is remarkably outstanding and empowers people in Nigeria and across the globe.
He also hosts ‘Power for the Wise, ‘ a daily devotional program on the radio that transforms lives daily.
He is also an author whose books have been life-transforming tools in the hands of those who have been privileged to come in contact with them.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo holds several Doctorate and honorary awards. He is the Convener of the Communion of Covenant Ministers International (CCMI), a gathering of Pastors designed for Fellowship, Spiritual Covering, Mentoring, Strengthening, and Networking, through conferences, seminars and other interactive sessions.
He is a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.
He is a man driven by the passion to show the love of God to humanity in every way the Lord enables him.
This passion gave birth to the Empowerment for the Less Privileged Foundation, a non-governmental organisation committed to alleviating the plight of the less privileged in society through donations to hospitals, the establishment of free vocational training centres, running free preparatory schools for students in secondary schools, and facilitating regular public enlightenment campaigns on health issues amongst others.
He also pioneers a scholarship fund for talented students. His strong faith and confidence in women and the potential in women gave him a place on the board of Trustees of the Women of Global Impact (WGI) a non-governmental organization putting smiles on the faces of women by providing Shelter to the homeless and also organizing free medical fair for both men and women across the nation amongst other things.
To contribute his quota to national development, he started the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture in 2000.
The lecture has grown to become a major contributor to government policies as it brings together seasoned men and women to discuss burning national issues.
Also, to encourage the writing skills of secondary school children and help them become solution providers to the nation, the Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition was born. Today, the topic for the essay is also the topic for the annual lecture.
In 2012, the Federal Government honoured him with the National Honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR).
