Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc has endorsed the prize money for the essay competition instituted in honour of Nigeria’s Literary Giant and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who will turn 80 on July 13, 2014.
The move is a partof the company’s corporate social responsibility in promoting academic excellence amongst youths undergoing post-primary education in the country and beyond
The activities leading to the birthday of the notable wordsmith is scheduled to commence on July 7 and end in December 2014, within and outside of the country.
Project WS is an International Cultural Exchange Programme designed for the purpose of using the platforms of Literature, Arts and Culture to affirm and uphold the dignity of our society; focusing on youths as the future of humanity.
The project was premiered in 2010 on the 76th Birthday of Professor Wole Soyinka.
The project has three main categories namely: the Essay competition which is open to Nigerian secondary school students anywhere in the world, the stage plays which features renowned Nigerian and international actors and the advocacy lectures.
The project sets out to engrave in the hearts of the youth, the uncommon view that education, arts and culture are authentic panacea to fear, violence and their resultant erosion of individual will and self actualisation.
The Pan Nigerian Secondary School Essay competition being a cultural exchange project chooses pertinent topics which is thrown open to Senior Secondary School Students all over Nigeria and the Diaspora.
Interested students are encouraged to submit essays on selected topics based on which finalists are selected; the number of which tallies with the age of the Noble Laureate. This year’s Essay topic for the finalists is themed, “Path to Freedom and the Future”.
The final stage of the essay competition will be held live as all the selected finalists will converge at the same venue to write the final stage of the essay at the same time. The first three winners will get cash scholarships and laptop computers while their respective schools get desktop computers as well.
While thanking the management of Sovereign Trust for its immeasurable support and partnership towards the hosting of this year’s edition of the project, the Project Coordinator and Executive Producer, Teju Kareem appreciated the company for finding the Project WS a laudable initiative worthy of support.
He further enjoined other corporate entities to follow in the stead of Sovereign Trust in identifying and supporting worthy causes as a way of ensuring the progressive movement of our dear country.
