Destiny Ike, Chibuike Alexander Emerge Winners In 2023 Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition

Ike Destiny of VIK International School, Akere Alagbado in Ogun State, and Alexander Chibuzor of Archbishop Heerey Technical College, Ogidi in Anambra State took first and second place, respectively, out of 795 essay entries received for the 18th Bishop Mike Essay Competition for Secondary School Students in Nigeria.

“Destiny and Alexander addressed the topic within the mental orbit of their age and demonstrated commendable passion and independent thinking in their writing,” said Chief Examiner Prof. T. Akachi Ezeigbo. We congratulate them and showcase them as role models for young people who are willing to carve their own path by making critical use of easy ways.”

Furthermore, the chief examiner stated that “we are constrained to present an overall winner and only one runner-up this year, as opposed to the usual practice of presenting one winner and two runners-up.” She went on to say that “a significant portion of the entries we received was, as usual, unsuitable for consideration.”

They were either directly taken from online sources or presented as originals, or they were edited and presented as such. We are used to this behaviour among teenagers, so we spent a significant amount of time following the essays on the internet in accordance with our quality control processes.”

In a statement from Mrs. Oluwayomi Uteh, Corporate Services Director, TREM, Miss Ike Destiny will be returning home with a cheque for N500,000, a trophy, and a plaque, while the school will receive a computer set.

The prizes for the winners of the 18th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools in the country will be delivered at this year’s Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, which will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at the Zenith Shell Hall Muson Center in Onikan, Lagos.  This year’s discussion is titled “Nigerianisation of Nigerians: An Inward Look.”

The Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition was established in 2004 as part of events to commemorate the birthday of TREM’s Presiding Bishop, Dr. Mike Okonkwo (MFR), and to contribute to the growth of the educational sector.

Dr. Mike Okonkwo has been doing this for 18 years, utilizing his God-given ability, strength, and resources to be a blessing to the younger generation in their pursuit of academic achievement by helping them to establish the habit of efficient reading and writing. This man of God, who believes in the total development of people in all aspects of life, has achieved this aim and desire through the institutionalization of the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition.

Some kids who participated in the essay competition program developed a greater interest in research work, substantial reading, and constructive writing. Aside from functioning as a tool to stimulate reading and writing, the tournament has also provided students with the opportunity to bare their souls.

The Chief Sponsor and visionary of the program, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, is confident of the fact that Nigerian youths can compete favorably with their counterparts in developed nations.