By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

A Grade-10 student of Seacrest Preparatory School,Port-Harcourt,Hephzibah Chidi,has emerged as winner of the 2024 edition of Heirs Insurance Group’s Essay Championship Scholarship, beating two other finalists to cart away the sum of N5 million as the grand prize.

Two other contestants who emerged as second and third winners, respectively,in the event held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, on Tuesday,were Pemisire Owolabi from Quest College in Oyo State, who won second place with a N2 million scholarship, and Mariam Raheem from Isador Model School in Lagos State, who won the third-place position with a N1 million scholarship.

The winners were announced at a grand ceremony at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, as part of an all-expense paid event hosted by the Group for the finalists, their parents and school representatives.

All the winners received their awards in the presence of their parents and school representatives, distinguished guests, including, Director General, 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.

The winner, Hephzibah Chidi from Seacrest Preparatory in Rivers State, who won the first-place position and a N5million scholarship, captivated the judges with her winning essay and presentation of “The Story of My Hero”. In addition to her N5M Scholarship, Hephzibah Chidi’s school, Seacrest Preparatory was awarded a N1M grant to support an educational project.

This year’s championship attracted nearly 5,000 participants from Junior Secondary Schools nationwide, all showcasing exceptional creativity and innovative ideas.

The Championship highlights Heirs Insurance Group’s unwavering commitment to supporting education and promoting financial literacy.

Heirs Insurance Group is Nigeria’s fastest-growing insurance Group.

Speaking at the event, Niyi Onifade, MD/CEO, Heirs Life Assurance and Sector Head, 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”.

Speaking further, Onifade praised the outstanding efforts of all 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 distinguished panel of academic professionals, led by a Professor of English, rigorously evaluated each entry.

The top 15 essays advanced to the next round of assessments, from which the top 3 finalists were chosen 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 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. The Championship also highlights emerging talent, bringing parents and children closer to insurance through extended financial literacy workshops.

Onifade, while congratulating and commending all finalists for making it thus far, explained that out of almost 5,000 entries nationwide, they emerged top three.

“This is a remarkable feat, and a recognition of your brilliance and hard work.,”he told the winners.

“At Heirs Insurance Group, we understand the vital role that education plays in shaping the future of a nation, and this competition is one of our contributions toward that goal.

“Nigeria is a country of immense promise with a vibrant and youthful population. We will continue to harness this potential.

“As our Chairman, Tony Elumelu, always says:’The future of Africa lies in the hands of our young ones.

“For us, we are not just in the business of insurance, we are in the business of improving lives and transforming the society. This is our purpose,”he added.