An estimated 35 to 40 per cent of entries submitted for the 2026 United Bank for Africa Foundation National Essay Competition displayed characteristics associated with artificial intelligence-generated content.\n<\/p>\n
This was contained in the judges\u2019 report on the 2026 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, obtained by The PUNCH.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n The panel of judges who assessed the over 12,000 essay entries and produced the report comprised professors of English from four Nigerian universities.\n<\/p>\n The authors of the report are Prof Ini Uko (University of Uyo), Prof Asabe Kabir (Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto), Prof Emmanuel Omobowale (University of Ibadan) and Prof Samuel Onuigbo (University of Nigeria, Nsukka).<\/p>\n The judges, in their report on the competition, said several essays bore patterns, vocabulary and synthetic structures associated with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini.\n<\/p>\n They identified overly polished American English, repetitive transitional phrases, generic solutions unrelated to Nigeria\u2019s realities, lack of personal experiences and local examples, and AI-style disclaimers as some of the features that raised concerns.\n<\/p>\n The report read, \u201cA major and alarming concern noted during the assessment was that many of the essays were generated by AI.<\/p>\n \u201cAn estimated 35-40% of the scripts displayed the characteristic pattern, vocabulary, and synthetic structure associated with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and other large language models.\u201d\n<\/p>\n The judges said the use of AI was noticeable in the submissions, citing phrases such as \u201cIn today\u2019s rapidly evolving world\u201d and \u201cDelve into\u201d.\n<\/p>\n \u200eThe report stated, \u201cThese essays were easily identifiable by their overly polished American English, repetitive transitional phrases like \u2018In conclusion, it is pertinent to note\u2026\u2019, \u2018In today\u2019s rapidly evolving world\u2026\u2019, \u2018Delve into\u2026\u2019, and the presentation of generic, non-contextual solutions such as \u2018vertical farming in urban skyscrapers\u2019 and \u2018government should invest in blockchain for food traceability\u2019, which lack relevance to the Nigerian smallholder farmer context.\u201d<\/p>\n \u200e\u201cSeveral essays also lacked a personal voice, personal experiences, and local examples, and ended with AI-style disclaimers,\u201d the report added.\n<\/p>\n \u200eThe judges also raised concerns about similarities among submissions, noting that several essays contained identical introductory paragraphs, definitions and conclusions.\n<\/p>\n \u200e\u201cClosely tied to the AI issue, very many essays contained similar sentences and clear evidence of template circulation.\n<\/p>\n \u200e\u201cThe judges found large clusters of several essays, often from the same school, using identical introductory paragraphs, identical definitions of food security copied from Wikipedia, and identical concluding statements,\u201d the report stated.<\/p>\n \u200eAccording to the report, the similarities suggested the circulation of common prompts, tutorial centre handouts or WhatsApp templates among students and schools.\n<\/p>\n \u200e\u201cFor example, several essays began with the exact sentence: \u2018Food security is defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization as when all people at all times have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.\u2019 This points to the circulation of a common prompt, a tutorial centre handout, or a WhatsApp broadcast template among students and schools, which completely undermines originality and critical thinking.\u201d <\/p>\n \u200eThe judges warned that the development undermined the originality and critical thinking the competition was designed to promote.\n<\/p>\n \u200e\u201cThe widespread use of AI-generated and templated essays makes it very hard to judge students\u2019 genuine writing ability and critical thinking. It puts honest, original students who make a real effort at a disadvantage,\u201d they stated.\n<\/p>\n \u200eThey recommended mandatory AI-detection and plagiarism screening in future editions, clearer essay guidelines, teacher briefing sessions and measures to prevent multiple submissions.\n<\/p>\n \u200eThey also proposed that the competition portal be configured to reject entries below 400 words.\n<\/p>\n \u200eThe findings came as 15-year-old Bala Khaira, a Senior Secondary School 3 pupil of Metro International School, Abuja, emerged as the winner of the 2026 competition, securing an N15m education scholarship.<\/p>\n \u200eBala, an indigene of Kogi State, was announced as the winner by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, at the unveiling of the winners held at UBA House, Marina, Lagos, on Tuesday.\n<\/p>\n \u200eShe beat more than 12,000 applicants to emerge as the winner of the 16th edition of the competition.\n<\/p>\n \u200eSpeaking after her victory, Bala said extensive research contributed to her entry and credited her parents for encouraging her to participate.\n<\/p>\n \u200eShe also emphasised the importance of human intelligence and critical thinking over reliance on artificial intelligence.\n<\/p>\n \u200e\u201cThis was my first time applying. I dedicate this victory to my parents, who greatly support me in my education and every one of my other endeavours,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n \u200eFour other students emerged among the top five winners, sharing in the N40m scholarship pool for the competition.\n<\/p>\n \u200eUdom Unwanabasi of Topfaith International Secondary School, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State, emerged as the first runner-up and received an N10m scholarship, while Ndamzi Flourish of the University of Port Harcourt Women Association International Secondary School came third and won N3.5m.<\/p>\n \u200eGodsfavour Udo of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obioitong, Akwa Ibom State, finished fourth and received an N5m scholarship, while Anyanwu Uchenna of Coral Impacts International School, Abuja, came fifth and won N2.5m.\n<\/p>\n \u200eThe 20 finalists, drawn from schools across the country, received laptops and certificates, while the top five were presented with plaques. Bala also received a trophy.\n<\/p>\n \u200eSpeaking on the competition, Atta said the topics for the two stages\u2014food security and child marriage\u2014were designed to encourage students to think critically and analytically about issues affecting society rather than rely on artificial intelligence.\n<\/p>\n \u200e\u201cThe topics were meant to allow students to be analytical and not use artificial intelligence,\u201d she said.\n <\/p>\n Source: <\/p>\n An estimated 35 to 40 per cent of entries submitted for the 2026 United Bank for Africa Foundation National Essay Competition displayed characteristics associated with artificial intelligence-generated content. 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