Hephzibah Chidi of Seacrest Preparatory School, Rivers State, won first place with a N5 million scholarship in the competition by Heirs Insurance Group for her essay titled “The Story of My Hero.”

Her school also received a N1 million grant for an educational project. Second and third place winners, Pemisire Owolabi from Quest College, Oyo State, and Mariam Raheem from Isador Model School, Lagos State, were awarded N2 million and N1 million scholarships, respectively.

The competition, which attracted nearly 5,000 participants from junior secondary schools nationwide, aims to promote education and financial literacy. A panel of academic professionals, including a Professor of English, rigorously evaluated the entries. The top 15 essays were shortlisted, and Deloitte & Touche ensured a transparent grading process. The winners were announced at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

MD/CEO of Heirs Life Assurance, Niyi Onifade, commended the participants’ creativity and critical thinking, underscoring the competition’s role in empowering youth and bridging the financial literacy gap.