The Abia State chapter of the Labour Party has announced a statewide essay competition for students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions, with cash prizes totalling ₦2.8 million.

Unveiling the initiative at the party’s secretariat in Umuahia, the state secretary of the party, Barrister Chuks Akamadu, said the competition is designed to deepen youth engagement in governance, public policy and democratic participation.

Akamadu described the project as a pioneering effort by the Abia chapter of the Labour Party, explaining that it reflects the party’s resolve to move beyond electioneering and invest in civic education and political consciousness among young people.

He said the competition is themed around the topic “The New Abia and Need for Consolidation,” and is intended to harvest ideas from young Abians on how to sustain and expand the gains recorded under Governor Alex Otti’s administration.

According to him, the exercise seeks to stimulate serious intellectual reflection on governance, development and accountability, while giving students a structured platform to propose practical policy recommendations for the state.

The contest is divided into two categories. Category A is for secondary school students, where the overall winner will receive ₦500,000, the second-placed entrant ₦300,000 and the third-placed participant ₦250,000. Category B is for students in tertiary institutions, with a first prize of ₦1 million, second prize of ₦500,000 and third prize of ₦250,000.

Akamadu added that there will be consolation prizes for other outstanding participants, and that schools producing prize winners will receive special recognition from the party.

Entries, which must not exceed 1,500 words, are to be submitted electronically to the Labour Party’s official email address. The organisers have also scheduled a formal prize-giving ceremony where winners will be publicly honoured.

The Labour Party official commended Governor Otti’s performance in office, saying the administration’s record in areas such as infrastructure, fiscal reforms and public sector transparency helped shape the focus of the competition.

Akamadu stressed that the initiative is part of a broader effort by the party to nurture a politically aware generation that understands both its rights and responsibilities in a democracy.

He said the party wants young Abians not only to observe politics from a distance but to actively contribute to the conversations and ideas that will define the state’s future.