By Umar Egbunu Muhammed, Lafia
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has rewarded outstanding winners of the 2026 COAS Literary Competition with cash prizes, underscoring the Nigerian Army’s commitment to promoting reading culture, intellectual development and patriotism among young Nigerians.
The awards were presented during a ceremony at the Nigerian Army’s 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, Nasarawa State, as part of activities marking the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration scheduled for July 6.
Represented by the Commander of the 4 Special Forces Command, Major General Hilary Nzan Awolo, the COAS said the literary competition was designed to promote national consciousness, intellectual engagement and active participation of young citizens in nation-building.
He explained that the nationwide competition, which featured essay and poetry categories, attracted entries from pupils and students of Army schools across various commands in the country.
According to him, the initiative has over the years provided a platform for young participants to express their views on issues of national importance, particularly security, patriotism and peacebuilding.
Major General Awolo announced that three pupils of the Children Army School, Doma, emerged among the national winners of the 2026 competition.
The winners include Aminu Zayyanu, who secured second place in the Primary Essay Category and received a cash prize of ₦250,000; Bright Dorasimi, who came third in the same category and received ₦100,000; and Hope Emmanuel, who placed third in the Primary Poetry Category and was also awarded ₦100,000.
“We are gathered today to celebrate Aminu, Bright and Hope, who have made this cantonment proud through their outstanding performance in the Chief of Army Staff Literary Competition. Their success demonstrates that our school here in Doma can compete favourably with any school in the country,” he said.
In addition to the prizes awarded by the COAS, Major General Awolo announced that each of the three winners would receive an additional ₦100,000 from the 4 Special Forces Command in recognition of their achievement.
Speaking at the event, Head Leader of the Children Army School, Doma, Hyacinth Vincent-Akuba, attributed the pupils’ success to hard work, discipline and dedication to their studies.
He commended the teachers for their commitment and sacrifices in mentoring the students academically and morally, noting that the victory had brought national recognition to the school.
“The winners devoted time to their studies, listened to their teachers and performed exceptionally well. Today, because of their achievements, our school is known across the country,” he said.
Vincent-Akuba explained that the theme of this year’s competition, ‘The Nigerian Army: The People’s Army, Our Army,’ reflects the enduring bond between the military and the civilian population.
He also expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff for creating a platform that allows children to freely express their thoughts on issues affecting the nation while encouraging excellence through healthy competition.
The COAS Literary Competition is one of the activities lined up to commemorate the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration and is aimed at nurturing creativity, critical thinking and patriotism among young Nigerians.