The Abia State chapter of the Labour Party has introduced a statewide essay competition for students in secondary and tertiary institutions, with a total prize pool of ₦2.8 million.
The party explained that the initiative is intended to encourage youth involvement in governance and public policy, while motivating young people to offer ideas that will aid the state’s development.
Speaking at the launch held on Thursday at the party’s secretariat in Umuahia, the state secretary, Chuks Akamadu, said the competition is the first of its kind organised by the Abia chapter of the Labour Party.
He noted that the initiative reflects the party’s dedication to civic education, democratic principles, and active political participation.
“The competition aligns with the Labour Party’s commitment to promoting equal opportunity, social justice, civic education, and responsible political participation.
“The exercise seeks to stimulate intellectual engagement among young Abians while generating practical ideas and policy recommendations that could contribute to governance and development.
“We are doing this because the Labour Party is a political party that is alive to its responsibilities in a democratic society. We are committed to educating citizens, promoting democratic values, and encouraging greater youth participation in the political process,” he stated.
Akamadu revealed that the essay topic is “The New Abia and Need for Consolidation.”
He explained that the competition is meant to capture the views of young people regarding the accomplishments of the administration of Alex Otti and ways to preserve those achievements.
According to him, the contest is divided into two categories.
“For Category A (Secondary School Students), the winner will receive ₦500,000, while the second and third positions will receive ₦300,000 and ₦250,000 respectively.
“For Category B (Tertiary Institution Students), the first prize is ₦1 million, while the second and third prize winners will receive ₦500,000 and ₦250,000 respectively,” he stated.
Akamadu further disclosed that exceptional participants outside the top three would receive consolation prizes, while the schools attended by the winners would also be specially recognised.
He added that entries must be no longer than 1,500 words and should be submitted electronically to the party’s official email address by July 17, while the award ceremony is scheduled for August 3.
The Labour Party secretary also praised Governor Alex Otti for what he described as the achievements of his administration during the last three years, noting that they served as inspiration for the initiative.
“The future of Abia belongs to our young people. Through this competition, we are giving them a voice to contribute to the political and developmental conversation shaping our state,” he said.