HEIRS Insurance Group has announced the winners of its 2024 Essay Championship, who will be awarded N8 million scholarships.
The winners were announced at a grand ceremony in Abuja, hosted by the Group with all expenses paid for the finalists, their parents, and school representatives.
Hephzibah Chidi from Seacrest Preparatory in Rivers State won the first-place position and N5 million scholarship captivated the judges with her winning essay and presentation of “The Story of My Hero”.
In addition to her N5 million scholarship, Hephzibah Chidi’s school, Seacrest Preparatory was awarded N1 million grant to support an educational project.
Other winners include Pemisire Owolabi from Quest College in Oyo State, who came second with N2 million scholarship, and Mariam Raheem from Isador Model School in Lagos State, who won the third position with N1 million scholarship.
The awards were presented to the winners in the presence of their parents and school representatives, guests, including the Director General, of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, and hosts of the event “Niyi Onifade, MD/CEO, Heirs Life Assurance, and the Group’s Sector Head, Tony Aniemeke, MD/CEO, Heirs Insurance Brokers, among others.
This year’s championship attracted nearly 5,000 participants from Junior Secondary Schools nationwide, all showcasing exceptional creativity and innovative ideas.
According to the company, the championship highlights Heirs Insurance Group’s unwavering commitment to supporting education and promoting financial literacy.
Niyi Onifade, MD/CEO of Heirs Life Assurance and Sector Head of Heirs Insurance Group said, “At Heirs Insurance Group, we understand that education is not only a pathway to a better future but also a catalyst for financial empowerment. Through this championship, we are nurturing young talent and bridging the financial literacy gap, fulfilling our purpose of improving lives and transforming Nigeria.”
Onifade lauded the outstanding efforts of participants, “I am proud of the creativity and critical thinking displayed by our finalists, as well as every student who submitted an essay. These young minds are shaping the future of our country, and we are proud to support them.”
A panel of academic professionals, led by a Professor of English, rigorously evaluated each entry, and the top 15 essays advanced to the next round of assessments, from which the top 3 finalists emerged to compete in the grand finale.
To ensure the highest standards of fairness and transparency, Deloitte & Touche was engaged as an independent Quality Assurer throughout the grading process, guaranteeing a free and fair evaluation for all participants.
The firm said the Heirs Insurance essay championship is a key component of Heirs Insurance Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, geared towards enhancing the quality of education for the next generation, stressing that the championship also highlights emerging talent, bringing parents and children closer to insurance through extended financial literacy workshops.
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