Ray Iserioghene Mukoro has emerged overall winner of the 2025 edition of the Nduka Obaigbena National Secondary Schools Essay Competition (NOSSEC) facilitated by Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER).

Also, Princewill Ogenhevwegba Kaizee won the second position while Egarievwe Unique Efetobor won the third position, according to a performance report signed by Professor of Communication at Baze University, Abuja, Abiodun Adeniyi.

Executive Director of CASER, Frank Tietie, told reporters in Abuja that the competition was inspired to project the impact made by the Chairman of the ThisDay/ARISE Media Group, Nduka Obaigbena, who went through Government College Ughelli, Delta State.

He said the competition brought out the creative writing, critical thinking, and fact-based expression pillars of responsible journalism in young students, who might want to pick up journalism career in the future, just like Nduka Obaigbena.

Tietie explained that the National Secondary Schools Essay Competition seeks to counteract the growing threat of misinformation, online abuse, and the decline of ethical communication, by promoting integrity, clarity, and accuracy in public discourse.

“We are actually looking at inspiring millions of lives because we are in an age of social media, we just needed to put this structure in place to also put some reward mechanism to inspire these children. I can tell you that what is happening today is being watched by a large number of young people,” Tietie said.

“It is not only when they do all sort of mischievous videos in social media, but young people can also be encouraged to do something that are constructive that are in line with the goal of education while they are in school.

He said the essay competition rewarded winners and also showcased them for their ability to conduct research on Prince Nduka Obaigbena, “who is an inspiration to his generation”.

“July 14 is his birthday, we thought we should do this competition and announce the winners on this day and to have a lecture presentation which Dr Sam Amadi has done to showcase the essence of broadcasting in an age where it is being threatened by Artificial Intelligence,” he said.