By – Aduwo Ayodele
Boys Without Borders, a boy-child advocacy organization, has called for entries into its inaugural Chidera Anushiem Essay Contest.
The competition, which is the first of its kind, has been featured as one of the lineup of events for the annual commemoration of the boy-child, celebrated globally.
The inaugural Chidera Anushiem Annual Essay Contest is currently open for submissions, lasting between April 13, 2024 and May 11, 2024.
The advocacy organization, envisioned ‘to provide boys with the necessary resources and support they need to grow into well-rounded and functional members of society’, has been at the forefront of ensuring that the boy-child is not left behind in a functional society, which truly wants both men and women to thrive.
As a maiden initiative, the Chidera Anushiem Essay Contest for male undergraduate students is an opportunity to weigh in on discourses about boy-child-related issues, win rewards, as well as hone their writing skills
The Director of Media and Communication, Mr. Theophilus Femi Alawonde, noted that the essay competition was an innovation, targeted at expanding the scope of the international celebration of every boy child.
“As part of our lineup of events for the 2024 International Day of the Boy-child celebrations, Boys Without Borders Nigeria is pleased to announce the Chidera Anushiem Essay Contest for male undergraduate students. The first of its kind in Nigeria to celebrate young men, the 2024 Chidera Anushiem Essay Contest is made possible by the benevolence of Mr. Chidera Anushiem and Writinova” Mr. Alawonde noted.
“Boys Without Borders Nigeria has always celebrated the International Day of the Boy-child through some of its initiatives. This year, we are expanding the scope of the celebrations through more activities targeted at boys and young men. One of such is the Chidera Anushiem Annual Essay Contest, of which the inaugural contest is made possible by the benevolence of Mr. Chidera Anushiem and Writinova, an AI tool tailored towards students’ writing needs” he added.
Highlighting the importance of the contest, Mr. Theophilus Alawonde stressed that the competition will afford participants an occasion to engage in issues-based discourses.
“The Chidera Anushiem Essay Contest will be an annual initiative; an opportunity for male undergraduate students to weigh in on discourses about boy-child-related issues, win monetary rewards and gain recognition for their efforts, and hone their writing skills” Mr. Alawonde said.
Stating the modalities of the essay contest, participants are required to write on the topic; ‘Towards building a balanced future; the role of boy-child advocacy’.
The top three entries in the essay contest will receive the grand prizes of N60, 000, N40, 000, and N20, 000 respectively, while shortlisted entrants will receive consolation prizes.
Stating its judging guidelines, ‘entries for the Chidera Anushiem Essay Contest should have a minimum of 1, 000 words and a maximum of 1, 500 words (excluding references), while ‘entrants MUST follow Writinova and Boys Without Borders Nigeria on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date on the essay contest timeline’.
Also, participants are required to send their entries ‘to boyswithoutbordersng@gmail.com, with 2024 Chidera Anushiem Essay Contest as the email subject with entrants’ name, school, level, and Twitter and Instagram handles in the body of the email’.
The organization has also noted that shortlisted entrants will be required to provide a validation for their student status.
