The Nigerian Army has opened applications for the fourth edition of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Literary Competitions, inviting children and young people to showcase their creativity and compete for cash prizes.
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The competition is themed, “Building Mutual Trust Between the Nigerian Army and the Citizens as a Foundation for National Security.” It aims to provide a platform for young Nigerians to express ideas and contribute to national conversations through writing and art.
The contest is open to Nigerians in primary school aged five to 11, secondary school students aged 12 to 17, and tertiary institution students aged 18 to 24.
Three categories are available: essay, art and poetry. Essay topics must be drawn from the theme. Essays should not exceed 2,000 words for primary and secondary school entrants, while tertiary students must submit between 3,000 and 5,000 words. Entries must reflect the writer’s original thoughts.
The art category accepts original paintings and drawings related to the theme. Each artwork must include a short caption and must not have been published previously.
Poetry entries may follow any genre but must relate to the theme, be written in English and contain no more than 200 words.
Cash prizes will be awarded across the three educational levels. Primary school winners will receive ₦1 million for first place, ₦750,000 for second and ₦500,000 for third.
For secondary school students, the prizes are ₦1.5 million, ₦1.2 million and ₦750,000, respectively. Tertiary institution winners will receive ₦2 million, ₦1.5 million and ₦1 million.
The competition opened on November 1, 2026, and entries close on May 31, 2027. Applicants are advised to check the official guidelines for submission requirements and ensure their entries are original.
The initiative also gives students an opportunity to develop communication skills and engage with a national security issue through creative work. Participants should review the requirements for their category before preparing submissions. Parents, teachers and school administrators can help children and students understand the guidelines, while ensuring that each entry remains the entrant’s own work.
How to apply
Interested applicants should visit https://dcma.army.mil.ng/ to access the competition guidelines and submit their entries online. Essays, scanned or photographed artworks, and poems must be uploaded to the designated portal before May 31, 2027.
