The National Essay Competition (NEC) Season 4 application has officially opened, offering a total of ₦10 million in cash prizes to young Nigerians ready to share ideas on how to strengthen the country’s revenue system.
The focus of this year’s competition is taxation and governance, with participants expected to respond to the essay question, “Analyze the challenges faced by the Nigerian Revenue Service in the implementation of the new tax laws and propose practical solutions to address them.”
The theme for NEC Season 4 is “The pen is ready, the stage is yours,” reflecting the competition’s aim to give young Nigerians a voice in national economic discussions.
The winner of NEC Season 4 will receive ₦5 million, while the first runner-up will get ₦3 million and the second runner-up will take home ₦2 million. The prize structure is meant to reward quality thinking and encourage deeper engagement with public finance issues.
NEC Season 4 challenges young Nigerians to present innovative and practical solutions while actively participating in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s revenue system. The competition is also designed to promote critical thinking and stimulate informed dialogue around public finance, accountability, and national development.
The initiative provides a platform for emerging voices to contribute ideas that could shape Nigeria’s policy discourse, especially at a time when revenue generation and governance reforms are receiving national attention.
The competition is open to Nigerians between the ages of 20 and 35, with persons with disabilities strongly encouraged to apply.
Submissions must be original, well-researched, and analytical, with relevant references provided. Essays should be between 1,000 and 1,500 words, excluding references, typed in Times New Roman, font size 12, double-spaced, and submitted in PDF format.
NEC has a strict plagiarism policy. Any entry with a similarity index above 20 per cent will be automatically disqualified. Each participant is allowed to submit only one essay per competition cycle.
Interested participants are encouraged to prepare thoroughly, as this edition is expected to be one of the most intellectually engaging in the competition’s history.
To apply, interested applicants should visit https://nationalessay.ng/submitessay and apply.
