WINNERS EMERGE AT ADVANS ESSAY COMPETITION

Winners have emerged in the inaugural Advans
Essay Competition organized by Advans La Fayette Microfinance Bank Limited for
students between ages 8 and 13, which held at the Grand Bee Suites, Lagos, on Friday,
September 30, 2022, after an objective evaluation process by a selected panel of judges.
Advans La Fayette MFB Limited is a leading microfinance bank providing simple and
efficient financial services to small businesses, individuals, and corporate organisations.
Leading several entrants across Lagos, Ondo, Kwara, Oyo and Anambra States, 11-year-old
Omidiji Dabira of Good Fortune Model International College, Ibadan, Oyo state, emerged
the winner of the essay competition, tagged: My Favourite Teacher.
Nine-year-old Purity Chukwudubem Chetachi of Star of Hope Montessori Schools, Alapere-
Ketu, Lagos, and 13-year-old Abegunrin Heritage Abiodun of Juli Standard College, Oke-
ola, Oyo State, emerged first and second runners-up, respectively.
Speaking at the Prize Presentation event, the Managing Director, Advans La Fayette MFB
Limited, Gaëtan Debuchy, said that the Competition is in line with the company’s objective
to help children develop effective writing skills and boost the education sector in Nigeria.
“Writing is hard work and a dying art, which is why I am super elated by the brilliance and
commitment demonstrated by these young ones. This goes to show that the future of
these leaders of tomorrow is truly bright.”
He applauded the support and endorsement by the Lagos State Ministry of Education,
school administrators and other government representatives for their roles in ensuring
the success of the competition.

The ceremony, which had in attendance government dignitaries, school owners and
proprietors, and other stakeholders in the educational sector saw the winners go home
with a cash prize of N100,000.00, N50,000.00 and N30,000.00 for the first, second and
third positions respectively, among other gift items.
Speaking on the evaluation process, the Chairman, Panel of Judges for the essay
competition and Chief Examiner WAEC and NECO, Lagos State, Akinseye Samuel Ayo said
the impartial grading assessment process that midwifed the shortlisted winners were
solely based on the sheer academic brilliance of the children poured out on the pages of
paper.
Advans Nigeria is a member of Advans Group, a leading international microfinance group
currently serving over 1.1 million clients in ten countries including Cambodia, Cameroon,
Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Pakistan, Nigeria, Tunisia and
Myanmar. For more than 15 years, the bank has offered a complete range of financial
services that has helped build over 4 million small businesses.