HELWA Foundation Essay Competition 2026
The HELWA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026 is inviting young Nigerian women to share their ideas, perspectives and experiences on issues affecting women and girls, using writing and creative expression as tools for advocacy and change.
This year’s competition is based on the theme “If I Were President for a Day…”.
Participants are expected to identify a meaningful problem or issue affecting Nigeria and present a clear, realistic solution or vision based on their own ideas and perspective.
Competition Details
Competition: HELWA Foundation Essay Competition 2026
Theme: “If I Were President for a Day…”
Eligible Applicants: Young Nigerian women
Age: 18–25 years
Status: Currently enrolled students
Submission Opens: 1 October 2026
Deadline: 15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM WAT
About the Competition
The HELWA Foundation National Essay Competition provides young Nigerian women with an opportunity to express their ideas and experiences about issues affecting women and girls.
The competition encourages participants to use writing and creative expression as tools for advocacy and change.
Applicants should choose a meaningful problem or issue affecting Nigeria and explain a clear and realistic solution or vision, demonstrating their own ideas and perspective.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate, applicants must:
- Be a Nigerian woman.
- Be between 18 and 25 years old as of the submission closing date.
- Be a currently enrolled student.
- Meet all other requirements contained in the competition guidelines.
What You Need to Submit
Applicants are required to submit two main components:
1. Original Essay
Your essay must respond to:
“If I Were President for a Day…”
The essay must:
- Respond directly to the competition topic.
- Identify a meaningful problem or issue affecting Nigeria.
- Present a clear and realistic solution or vision.
- Demonstrate your own ideas and perspective.
- Be no more than 1,500 words.
- Be your original work.
AI-generated or copied submissions are not permitted.
The essay must also not have been previously published or submitted to another competition.
2. 60-Second Vision Video
Applicants must also submit a video of no more than 60 seconds communicating their vision.
The video should:
- Clearly communicate your idea.
- Be no longer than 60 seconds.
- Be your original work.
- Be accessible through the link provided in your application.
You can record the video with a smartphone; professional equipment is not required.
Before submitting, applicants should test the video link to ensure that it is accessible.
Important Submission Guidelines
- Only one submission per eligible participant is permitted.
- All information provided must be accurate and complete.
- The essay must be original and appropriately attributed where necessary.
- Submissions that do not meet the eligibility or submission requirements may be disqualified.
- Carefully review your essay, video link and all other information before submitting.
- Once submitted, your response cannot be edited.
- Late submissions will not be accepted.
By submitting an application, participants confirm that they meet the eligibility requirements, that the information provided is accurate, and that the essay and video submitted are their original work.
Application Checklist
Before applying, make sure you have:
- Confirmed that you are a Nigerian woman aged 18–25.
- Confirmed that you are currently enrolled as a student.
- Prepared your original essay on “If I Were President for a Day…”
- Kept the essay within the 1,500-word limit.
- Ensured the essay has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere.
- Prepared your original 60-second vision video.
- Checked that your video is accessible through the link you will provide.
- Reviewed all information for accuracy and completeness.
- Confirmed that you are making only one submission.
- Submitted before the 15 October 2026, 11:59 PM WAT deadline.
How to Apply
Eligible participants can submit their application through the official HELWA Foundation competition page:
Deadline
15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM WAT
Applications opened on 1 October 2026, and late submissions will not be accepted.
Contact
HELWA Foundation
Email: hello@wearehelwa.org
Scholarships Expiring Soon
Conclusion
The HELWA Foundation Essay Competition 2026 gives young Nigerian women an opportunity to put forward their ideas about Nigeria’s challenges and propose realistic solutions through writing and creative expression.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, prepare an original essay of up to 1,500 words and a 60-second vision video, then submit both before the deadline.
Application Deadline: 15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM WAT.
