The Boy Who Found Gold National Essay Competition 2025

XyZ is organizing an annual essay contest titled "The Boy Who Found Gold National Essay Competition" for Nigerian students and youths as part of its education and empowerment initiative. The competition aims to promote a strong reading culture, encourage intellectual engagement, and inspire ambition among young people.

The 2025 edition is centered on the theme "The Story of The Boy Who Found Gold: Lessons for Me and My Generation," inspired by a timeless novel The Boy Who Found Gold by Caleb Onyeabor — a powerful story of ambition, adventure and the pursuit of dreams.

The competition will run from September 30th to December 31st, 2025, and is open to senior secondary school students, undergraduates, and youths aged 18–35 across Nigeria. A dedicated digital platform has been created for submission of entries nationwide.

The 2025 edition will award a total of ₦1,700,000 in cash prizes to outstanding participants, reaffirming XyZ's commitment to education, youth development, and nation-building.

Overview How to Participate About Judges Submit Your Essay

Grand Prize Winner

₦1,000,000

Plus recognition on national media for winners and schools

Competition Details

Overview & Theme

The Boy Who Found Gold National Essay Competition is a platform to inspire ambition, vision, and purpose in young Nigerians. Participants are invited to reflect on the theme: "The Story of The Boy Who Found Gold: Lessons for Me and My Generation", drawing from Caleb Onyeabor's inspiring novel The Boy Who Found Gold.

This powerful story of hope and resilience encourages readers to pursue their dreams, boost reading culture, and promote values of ambition, purpose, and inspiration. The competition aims to ignite meaningful conversations about personal growth, community impact, and generational change among Nigeria's youth.

Complete Prize Structure:

Grand Prize Winner: ₦1,000,000 + National Media Recognition + Certificate of Excellence
1st Runner-Up: ₦500,000 + National Media Recognition + Certificate of Excellence
2nd Runner-Up: ₦200,000 + + National Media Recognition + Certificate of Recognition

Total Prize Pool: ₦1,700,000

Competition Period: September 31, 2025 – December 31, 2025

Eligibility: Open to senior secondary school students, university students, and youths aged 18-35 residing in Nigeria.

Winner Announcement: Winners and their schools/institutions will be announced on national media platforms.

How to Participate - Step by Step Guide

To enter The Boy Who Found Gold National Essay Competition 2025, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Get your copy of The Boy Who Found Gold from our official website, authorized bookshops, agents, schools, or retail outlets nationwide. This confirms your registration.
Step 2: Read the complete novel and immerse yourself in the inspiring story of ambition, hope, and personal transformation.
Step 3: Reflect deeply on the theme: "The Story of The Boy Who Found Gold: Lessons for Me and My Generation" and consider how the book's lessons apply to your personal journey and your generation's challenges and opportunities.
Step 4: Write your essay (maximum 2,000 words) in Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced. Your essay should demonstrate original thinking, personal insights, and clear connections between the book's themes and contemporary Nigerian youth experiences.
Step 5: Submit your essay through our secure online submission portal at www.theboywhofoundgoldbook.com/entry before the December 31, 2025 deadline.

Essay Guidelines: Your essay should capture personal insights and life-changing lessons drawn from the book, addressing how these lessons apply to you personally and your generation as a whole. Focus on themes such as ambition, resilience, education, hope, community impact, and personal transformation.

About Our Distinguished Judges

Our panel of distinguished judges brings together academic excellence, international experience, and deep understanding of African literature and youth development:

Prof. Gerald Ezirim - Professor at University of Nigeria, Nsukka. An experienced educator with a demonstrated history of working in education management, Prof. Ezirim brings academic rigor, extensive knowledge of Nigerian literature, and deep insight into youth development to the judging panel.

Raphael Solomon Davies - Fulbright Scholar, Diplomat, Professor at University of Ohio, and CEO of Lapicero Consulting. Mr. Davies combines global expertise, diplomatic experience, and a passion for education and youth empowerment. His international perspective and commitment to African development make him an invaluable judge for this competition.

Our judges will evaluate essays based on originality, depth of insight, writing quality, connection to the book's themes, and relevance to contemporary Nigerian youth experiences.

Competition Benefits

Beyond the substantial cash prizes, participants in The Boy Who Found Gold National Essay Competition will:

Develop critical thinking and analytical writing skills
Engage deeply with inspiring African literature
Connect with a community of ambitious young Nigerians
Gain national recognition for their writing talents
Access networking opportunities with educators and professionals
Contribute to important conversations about youth development in Nigeria

Submit Your Essay Now