By Adesina Wahab

Entries for the 20th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students in Nigeria have commenced.

The 20th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students in Nigeria kicked off on Monday, March 17, 2025, and will run through Friday, June 20, 2025.

A statement signed by Rev. Anthony Samuel for the Corporate Affairs Department said the theme for this year’s competition is “The Nigeria of Our Dreams: Today’s Reality and a Responsible Pathfinder.”

It is also part of he activities to mark the 80th birthday of Bishop Mike Okonkwo.

To participate in the 20th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition, students must submit an essay (maximum 1,200 words) along with the following details: full name, address, telephone number, school name, class, and the principal’s telephone number.

According to Rev. Anthony, all essays should be submitted in Word document format via email to [email protected].

This year’s competition is a special edition. The first prize winner will receive a cash prize of ₦1,000,000, a laptop, and a plaque. The winning student’s school will also receive a desktop computer and a trophy. The first runner-up will receive ₦600,000, a laptop, and a plaque, while their school will be awarded a desktop computer. The second runner-up will be awarded ₦400,000, a laptop, and a plaque, with their school also receiving a desktop computer.

The Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition is part of Dr. Mike Okonkwo’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, aimed at fostering critical thinking and analytical skills in students to prepare them for success. It also contributes to raising the standard of education in Nigeria. Additionally, this event is part of the activities celebrating the birthday of the Patron, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, which is especially significant this year as he turns 80.

Dr. Mike Okonkwo is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), also known as Power in the Word, with over 200 branches in Nigeria and around the world. He is an Apostle to this generation, having impacted millions globally through his ministry. A father figure to many and a pastor to pastors, Dr. Okonkwo is a dynamic conference speaker, crusade evangelist, national spokesman for Nigeria, and advocate of balanced Christianity.

In his commitment to nation-building, Dr. Okonkwo established the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture in 2000. The lecture addresses key challenges facing the nation and proposes meaningful solutions. Over time, the lecture has become a key platform for influencing government policy, bringing together distinguished individuals to discuss pressing national issues. The Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition was birthed from this platform, and both events culminate on the same day, with the essay topic aligning with the theme of the annual lecture.

In 2012, Dr. Okonkwo was honoured with the National Honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR).

Bishop Mike Okonkwo is married to Bishop Peace Okonkwo, and they are blessed with a daughter and son-in-law.