Hephzibah Chidi, a Grade-10 student from Seacrest Preparatory School, Port Harcourt, has won the 2024 Heirs Insurance Group Essay Championship Scholarship. She secured the grand prize of N5 million, defeating two other finalists.
The second-place prize of N2 million was awarded to Pemisire Owolabi from Quest College, Oyo State. Mariam Raheem from Isador Model School, Lagos State, took third place and received N1 million.
The winners were celebrated at a ceremony held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, where they were honored alongside their parents and school representatives. The event was attended by notable figures, including Charles Odii, Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and Niyi Onifade, MD/CEO of Heirs Life Assurance, among others.
Hephzibah Chidi impressed the judges with her essay titled “The Story of My Hero,” earning her the top prize and an additional N1 million grant for Seacrest Preparatory School to support an educational project.
The Championship attracted nearly 5,000 participants from Junior Secondary Schools across Nigeria, showcasing remarkable creativity and innovative ideas. This initiative underscores Heirs Insurance Group’s commitment to supporting education and enhancing financial literacy in Nigeria.