The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has announced the winners of its 2026 Essay, Poetry and Spoken Word Competition, recognising law students and young lawyers for their contributions to discussions on justice, democracy and national development.
The competition attracted 57 entries from universities and NBA branches across the country and was organised around the theme of the section’s annual conference: “In Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy and Development.”
NBA-SPIDEL Chair, Dr Uju Agomoh, announced the results on Monday, November 9, in Umuahia, Abia State. She said a judging sub-committee assessed the entries using a published evaluation framework.
Law students’ essay category
Favour Ofie Ebiala of the University of Calabar emerged first with her essay, “The People’s Account”, and will receive a cash prize of ₦75,000.
Frank Okike of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, came second with “Beyond the Courtroom, Beyond the Gown”, winning ₦50,000.
Madu Chidera Ebenezer, also of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, placed third with “The Architecture of Disruption”, earning ₦25,000.
Young lawyers’ essay category
Obiorah Chibuzor Victor, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2026, won the first prize of ₦75,000 for his essay, “Picking the Padlock”.
Unamadu Chisom Emmanuel, called to the Bar in 2024, finished second with “Closing the Door on Qualification”, receiving ₦50,000.
Ismail Mustapha, also called to the Bar in 2024, took third place with “Justice Must Leave the Courtroom” and will receive ₦25,000.
Competition highlights public-interest challenges
Agomoh said the strongest submissions examined practical challenges confronting Nigeria, including pre-trial detention, electoral justice, mob violence, enforcement of socio-economic rights and accountability for public spending.
She noted that the winning essays also challenged members of the legal profession to look beyond courtroom advocacy and consider how their work could respond to the needs of society.
The NBA-SPIDEL chair commended participants whose entries narrowly missed the top positions. She specifically recognised Rachael Ajisafe of Olabisi Onabanjo University and Anagha Favour Chidiogo of Lagos State University for their poems.
She also acknowledged Ezedinugwu Henry Odira for an essay on extrajudicial punishment and Goto Emmanuel for producing what she described as the strongest poem among the young lawyers.
The winners are expected to receive their prizes during the 2026 NBA-SPIDEL Annual Conference, holding in Umuahia from November 9 to 13.
Agomoh said the competition formed part of the section’s efforts to encourage public-interest engagement among law students and young lawyers, while providing a platform for emerging legal minds to contribute ideas on justice and national development.
“The public interest is not an abstract idea,” she said, highlighting the need for the law to reach people in detention, protect voters at polling units and respond to communities awaiting essential infrastructure and public services.
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