As part of activities to mark the 30th anniversary of Ekiti State, the Ekiti @30 Anniversary Planning Committee has announced a youth essay competition aimed at giving young people a platform to shape the future of the state.
The competition, themed “Ekiti at 30: My Dream and Agenda for the Next Thirty Years,” invites Ekiti youths to envision the kind of state they want by 2056 and propose practical steps government, communities, institutions, the private sector and citizens can take to achieve it.
It is open to Ekiti indigenes aged 18 to 35, both within and outside the state.
Participants are expected to address issues such as agriculture and food security, education, technology and innovation, entrepreneurship, arts and culture, infrastructure, healthcare, governance, and environmental sustainability.
The Committee said the contest is designed to move beyond listing Ekiti’s challenges and instead encourage original, practical and measurable solutions. Preference will be given to essays that clearly link vision to implementation — stating what should be done, who should do it, how it will be funded, and what results are expected.
First Prize ₦1,500,000, laptop and certificate, Second Prize 1,000,000, laptop and certificate, Third Prize ₦750,000, laptop and certificate while
Seven other finalists 100,000 each and certificate of distinction
The winners will be announced at the
Ekiti at 30 Future Summit scheduled for October 7, 2026, in Ado-Ekiti.
According to the Committee, the top 10 essays will be published in a commemorative book, while all finalists will be invited to the Ekiti Youth Futures Forum in December.
The strongest proposals will also be compiled and presented to government as a proposed _“Youth Agenda for Ekiti 2056.
The Committee added that the initiative is also aimed at identifying young writers, thinkers and policy innovators whose ideas can contribute to the state’s long-term development.
Entries will be accepted from September 11 to September 28, 2026. Interested participants can submit at: www.ekitistate.gov.ng/essay.
