Nigerian AI Essay Contest Receives 1,423 Entries, Awards ₦400,000 Top Prize

*TL;DR: 1,423 students from every Nigerian state entered the AI literacy essay contest; the top prize of ₦400,000 went to Adeniji Yusuf Joseph.

Context A partnership between Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative and the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation launched a national essay competition on artificial intelligence (AI) for public good. The event, held in Ilorin, aimed to boost digital literacy and ethical awareness among university students across Nigeria’s 37 states.

Key Facts - Submissions came from 549 tertiary institutions, covering all states, and totaled 1,423 essays. - After an initial review, judges narrowed the pool to 100 essays, then selected 12 finalists (four women, eight men) for a live oratory round. - The judging panel, drawn from academia, media, law and technology, evaluated originality, ethical reasoning and depth of insight. - Adeniji Yusuf Joseph of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta won the competition and received a cash prize of ₦400,000. - Second and third places earned ₦300,000 and ₦200,000 respectively, awarded to Enoch Aremu (Ladoke Akintola University of Technology) and Deniran El‑Caleb Obanijesu (Obafemi Awolowo University). - Organisers emphasized that technology should support human thinking, not replace it, echoing participants’ concerns about over‑reliance on AI‑generated content.

What It Means The volume of entries signals strong interest among Nigerian youth in AI’s societal impact. By rewarding essays that stress ethical governance and human welfare, the contest reinforces a narrative that AI must be guided by responsible policy and critical thinking. The prize structure and public presentation provide a model for other African nations seeking to embed digital ethics in higher‑education curricula. Future initiatives may track how participants translate these ideas into research, startups or policy advocacy, shaping Nigeria’s digital future.

*Watch for the next round of BBYDI‑McGovern activities, including workshops that aim to turn essay insights into actionable AI governance frameworks.*