National Essay Competition 10TH EDITION
Discover the platform empowering Nigeria's future leaders to shape the energy sector
The NCDMB National Essay Competition is a prestigious annual event that invites students from universities across Nigeria to showcase their intellectual abilities, critical thinking skills, and innovative ideas about the future of Nigeria's energy sector. Now in its 10th edition, the competition has become a cornerstone of youth engagement in national development.
Our mission is to foster a culture of academic excellence and encourage the next generation of leaders to contribute meaningfully to the discourse on energy sustainability, technological innovation, and economic development in Nigeria.
The NCDMB Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition is sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to promote academic excellence and Nigerian Content to encourage the youths to build local capacities and competencies to prepare for effective participation in Nigeria's Oil and Gas industry.
Launched in 2017, the competition was established by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as part of its mandate to develop indigenous capacity in the oil and gas industry. What began with just 500 participants from 20 universities has grown exponentially, with last year's edition attracting over 15,000 entries from 90+ institutions nationwide.
The competition has produced remarkable talents who have gone on to secure internships with leading energy companies, receive scholarships for advanced studies, and contribute to policy discussions at the national level.
Online registration portal opens for all interested participants. Students can register and begin working on their essays.
All essays must be submitted through the online portal by this date. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Short-listed entrants are contacted for the 3rd and final round interactive assessment.
The grand finale and award ceremony where winners are announced and prizes distributed.
To ensure fair participation and equal opportunity, the competition has established the following eligibility requirements:
Open to full-time undergraduate students currently enrolled in Nigerian universities and polytechnics in their first and second year (100-200 level) of studies.
Essays must be original work, 1,500 words maximum, and address the announced topic for the year: "Promoting Manufacturing for Sustainable Local Content Development"
Participants must provide valid student ID, upload admission letter, and a recent passport photograph during registration.
Individual participation only. Team submissions and co-authorship are not allowed in this competition.
We offer substantial rewards to recognize and support the exceptional talent of our winners:
Additional prizes include special recognition awards, certificates of participation for all finalists, and publication opportunities for outstanding essays.
The competition is open to all full-time undergraduate students currently enrolled in Nigerian universities and polytechnics. Participants must be in their 1st to 2nd year (100-200 level) of study.
The essay topic for the 2026 competition is: "Promoting Manufacturing for Sustainable Local Content Development". Participants are encouraged to explore innovative approaches to promoting manufacturing as a key driver of sustainable local content development in Nigeria.
Essays will be evaluated based on the following criteria: Clarity of Expression, Spelling and Grammar, Originality of Thought, Depth of Analysis, Relevance to Industry, and Conformity to Contest Rules. A panel of academic experts and industry professionals will conduct the evaluation.
No, each participant is limited to one submission. Multiple submissions from the same participant will result in disqualification. Ensure your essay represents your best work before submission.
Essays must be 1,500 words maximum, excluding references and appendices. Submissions outside this range will be automatically disqualified. The word count shall be clearly stated at the end of the essay.
YES, each essay submission will go through an AI pass test and Plagiarism test to ensure originality and authenticity.