The Nigerian Army has announced the commencement of the Third Edition of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Literary Competitions 2026, aimed at encouraging creativity, patriotism and intellectual development among young Nigerians.
The competition, themed “The NA: The People’s Army, Our Army,” is open to pupils in primary schools, students in secondary schools and undergraduates across Nigeria. Entries will be received from Monday, 11 August 2025, to Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
According to the organisers, the initiative is part of the Nigerian Army’s efforts to promote national unity, foster civil-military relations and nurture talent among young citizens through literary and artistic expression.
Categories And Eligibility
The competition is divided into three major categories: Essay, Art and Poetry. These are open to applicants aged 5–11 years in primary schools, 12–17 years in secondary schools and undergraduates of all ages in tertiary institutions.
Participants are expected to submit entries that reflect the theme and highlight the role of the Nigerian Army as a people-centred institution.
Entry Guidelines
Application forms for all categories must be completed online, printed and endorsed by the Head of School before being scanned and uploaded. The organisers noted that there will be two stages of assessment. The first stage will involve the screening and shortlisting of entries, while the second stage will include virtual interactions with shortlisted candidates before final selection.
The Nigerian Army emphasised that originality is mandatory, warning that any entry discovered to be plagiarised at any stage will be disqualified. Selected works may also be published in Nigerian Army journals and periodicals.
Specific Requirements
For the Essay Competition, topics must be derived from the theme. Essays from primary and secondary school applicants must not exceed 2,000 words, while undergraduate submissions should be between 3,000 and 5,000 words.
Art entries must be original paintings or drawings related to the theme and accompanied by a short caption. All artworks must be scanned or photographed and uploaded before the deadline.
Poetry entries must be original, written in English and not exceed 200 words. Participants are free to explore any poetic genre provided it aligns with the theme.
Attractive Cash Prizes
Winners across the three categories and levels will receive certificates and substantial cash rewards.
For primary school participants, first, second and third prizes are ₦500,000, ₦250,000 and ₦100,000 respectively. Secondary school winners will receive ₦700,000, ₦350,000 and ₦150,000, while undergraduates will be awarded ₦1,000,000, ₦500,000 and ₦250,000 for first, second and third positions.
The same prize structure applies to the Essay, Art and Poetry competitions.
Presentation Of Awards
The organisers disclosed that all winners will be honoured at a specially organised ceremony, where certificates and cash prizes will be presented. Successful participants will be notified of the date and venue of the event.
The Nigerian Army urged schools, parents and students to take advantage of the opportunity to showcase their talents while promoting patriotism and national cohesion.
The closing date for submission of entries remains Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
