Entry for Fidelity Bank’s Read-to-Lead writing contest ends today
By Editor
SECONDARY school students ages 13-17 have a chance to contest and win N2 million and also perform some social work for their schools by helping to equip their school library. Parents and guardians are encouraged to enter their children and wards for a chance to win a N2 million publishing deal, N2 million cash prize, and a N2 million donation to renovate his or her school library.
A statement from the bank says, “At Fidelity, we champion the transformative impact of reading and writing, recognizing the boundless potential within every child. The Fidelity Bank’s ‘Read to Lead’ competition embodies a clear mission: to empower young minds, nurture creativity, and instil a lifelong passion for reading and writing.
“Our profound yet simple goal is to cultivate a love for reading and writing from a young age, understanding that by sparking their imaginations early, we can unlock their potential and pave the way for future success. Remember, Readers are Leaders.”
Those who register will receive a unique ID after uploading the student or ward’s passport photograph and birth certificate/Passport or any other valid means of identification. After registering, a unique student ID will be sent. The writing will take three course process and the best will be rewarded.
MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe
However, organisers of this writing contest fail to state what form the writing will take, whether prose fiction/short story, poetry, drama or essay. This leaves the contest for speculation. With a publishing deal also being offered as part of the prize package, it is hard to see how that will work out. For instance, if the writing contest is an essay, how do you offer a publishing deal for it?
It will be recalled that Fidelity bank Plc once sponsored the one famous Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Creative Writing Workshop, but stopped after several editions. The bank did not offer reasons for not continuing the workshop in spite of the impact it made among young writers who took part. With secondary school students as its catchment area in this new contest – Read-to-Lead – Fidelity Bank Plc is looking at catching young talent and nurturing them into adult writers.
