2026 Mike Okonkwo Essay: Students Vie for N1.7m Prizes

National Essay Competition Invites Secondary School Students to Engage with Critical Issues

The 2026 Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition has officially opened its doors, inviting senior and junior secondary school students from across Nigeria to participate. The submission window commenced on March 16 and will remain open until June 30, 2026, offering students a valuable opportunity to showcase their writing prowess and critical thinking skills.

This year’s competition tackles a theme of profound relevance: ‘Democracy at the Crossroads: Electoral Credibility, Judicial Integrity and the Future of Nigeria’. This timely topic challenges young minds to analyze the current state of democratic institutions and consider their implications for the nation’s trajectory.

Key Submission Guidelines:

• Essay Length: Participants are required to submit an essay of no more than 1,200 words.
• Required Information: Each submission must include the following details:
  • Full Name
  • Location/Address
  • Telephone Number
  • Class Level
  • Age
  • School Name and Location
  • Principal’s Name
  • Principal’s Telephone Number
• Submission Methods:
  • Email: All entries should be sent to essay@trem.org.
  • In Person: Hard copies can be submitted at the TREM International Headquarters, located in Gbagada, Lagos.

Exciting Prizes and Recognition:

The competition offers substantial rewards for outstanding participants and their educational institutions, fostering a spirit of academic excellence and healthy competition.

• Star Prize Winner:

  • N800,000 cash prize
  • A laptop
  • A plaque
  • The winner’s school will receive a desktop computer and a plaque.

• First Runner-Up:

  • N500,000 cash prize
  • A laptop
  • A plaque
  • The winner’s school will receive a desktop computer.

• Second Runner-Up:

  • N400,000 cash prize
  • A laptop
  • A plaque
  • The winner’s school will receive a desktop computer.

A Legacy of Intellectual Development

Established in 2004, the annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition has consistently aimed to cultivate strong writing abilities, promote critical thinking, and encourage young Nigerians to engage with pressing national issues through well-articulated academic narratives.

According to Rev. Anthony Samuel from the Corporate Affairs Department at TREM International Headquarters, Lagos, the competition has become a significant platform for intellectual discourse, attracting over 20,000 student participants since its inception.

The competition was instituted as a key component of the corporate social responsibility initiatives championed by Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). It is closely linked to his annual birthday celebrations, providing a unique avenue for Nigerian students to demonstrate and participate in intellectual discussions concerning national matters.

About Bishop Mike Okonkwo

Bishop Mike Okonkwo is a highly respected spiritual leader and philanthropist with over 30 years of dedicated ministry. He is known for his powerful preaching of the Word, reaching a diverse, multicultural audience. His ministry, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), boasts more than 180 branches within Nigeria and has expanded its reach to ten countries globally.

Recognised as an apostle for his generation, Bishop Okonkwo’s influence has touched millions of lives. He is widely regarded as a father figure to many and a pastor to pastors worldwide. Beyond his pastoral duties, he is a sought-after conference speaker, a fervent crusade evangelist, a prolific author, and a prominent television and radio host. He is also a respected advocate for balanced Christianity in Nigeria.

His academic journey includes studies at the Morris Cerullo School of Ministry and Covington Theological Seminary in the USA, where he earned several doctoral degrees and received numerous honorary awards.

Commitment to the Less Privileged

Bishop Okonkwo’s dedication extends beyond spiritual leadership to a profound commitment to uplifting the less privileged. He founded the Empowerment for the Less Privileged (ELP) Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that actively alleviates hardship through various initiatives. These include:

• Hospital donations
• Free vocational training centres
• Preparatory schools for secondary students
• Health awareness campaigns
• Scholarships for talented yet disadvantaged students

Under Bishop Okonkwo’s visionary leadership, TREM supports over 250 pastoral staff and operates numerous outreach ministries focused on serving unreached communities. These vital programmes include prison outreach, the ‘Word Ambassadors’ who conduct crusades in towns and villages, and the ‘We Care’ Ministry. The ‘We Care’ Ministry is instrumental in providing essential relief items, food, basic medical care, short-term loans, and support for petty traders, all aimed at empowering individuals to achieve self-sufficiency.

Bishop Okonkwo is married to Bishop Peace Okonkwo, and they are the proud parents of a daughter. His enduring legacy is one of spiritual guidance, intellectual engagement, and compassionate service to humanity.