Tag Archives: awards

awards, competition, Events, Opportunities

NATIONAL ESSAY COMPETITION SEASON 4 TO ENGAGE YOUNG NIGERIANS ON TAX REFORM

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LOCATION: Nigeria

Organizers of the National Essay Competition (NEC) have announced the commencement of Season 4, inviting young Nigerians to demonstrate their intellectual depth, analytical capacity, and policy insight on one of the nation’s most pressing economic issues. The focus of this year’s competition is taxation and governance, with participants required to respond to the essay question: “Analyze the challenges faced by the Nigerian Revenue Service in the implementation of the new tax laws and propose practical solutions to address them. The competition attracts participants from across the country, ensuring diverse perspectives and a truly national discourse.

ELIGIBILITY:

The competition is open to Nigerians aged 20 to 35, with persons with disabilities strongly encouraged to apply, reflecting the organizers’ commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.

According to the guidelines, submissions must be original, well-researched, and analytical, supported by relevant references.

Essays should be 1,000 to 1,500 words (excluding references), typed in Times New Roman, font size 12, double-spaced, and submitted in PDF format.

The organizers also emphasized a strict plagiarism policy, noting that any entry with a similarity index exceeding 20 percent will be automatically disqualified.

Interested participants are encouraged to prepare thoroughly and submit compelling entries, as this edition promises to be one of the most intellectually engaging in the competition’s history.

BENEFIT:

Winners of NEC Season 4 will receive cash prizes, with ₦5 million awarded to the winner, ₦3 million to the first runner-up, and ₦2 million to the second runner-up.

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awards, Events, Opportunities, other events, PhD/post doctoral

COLUMBIA GLOBAL EMERGING SCHOLARS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

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Application Deadline: March 19, 2026

LOCATION: Multiple Regions

The Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program provides opportunities for early-career scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who hold refugee status or have been forcibly displaced. Through the program, year-long fellowships are awarded to support emerging displaced scholars through a Columbia Global Center, where they receive ongoing support to enhance their research capabilities, broaden their professional networks, and advance toward a successful career in academia.

ELIGIBILITY:

Eligible candidates are scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who have been forcibly uprooted from their home countries and respective academic institutions. They could be postdoctoral scholars in the early stages of their careers or Ph.D. candidates who have had their education disrupted. Creative writers, artists, curators, and scholars working on interdisciplinary projects are encouraged to apply.

Requirements:

Must be displaced.

Must have a Ph.D. in the humanities (with rare exceptions, candidates with a non-terminal M.A. or who were on track to get a Ph.D. may be considered).

Must be based in the region of the Global Center to which they wish to apply (Sub-Saharan Africa for Nairobi; Middle East or North Africa for Amman; Latin America or the Caribbean for Santiago).

Must demonstrate at least an intermediate level of English language proficiency.

Must have received their highest academic degree within the last 12 years.  Exceptions to this timeline will be considered to accommodate career-specific trajectories or other circumstances.

While it is preferred that fellows remain in person at the relevant Columbia Global Center for the duration of the fellowship, there is a minimum in-person requirement of six months if it is not feasible for the fellow to remain in person due to immigration, family-related, or other circumstances.

Researchers working on interdisciplinary research projects are welcome to apply.

Fellows are expected to participate in scholarly presentations, workshops, and roundtable discussions. Through the Global Center, they will be connected to a global network of academics and scholars from Columbia University and beyond.

BENEFIT:

Scholars receive the following:

Hosting and workspace at one of the Columbia Global Centers (Amman, Nairobi, or Santiago).

A stipend.

Dedicated mentorship from esteemed Columbia faculty.

A small research/travel fund to support their scholarly endeavors.

Training that meets their academic needs in areas such as academic writing.

Access to a broad selection of online courses.

Full integration into the vibrant life of one of the Columbia Global Centers.

Inclusion in an alumni network.

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