Chief of Army Staff Recognizes Exceptional Literary Talents Among Students at Military Institutions

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has honored the outstanding winners of the Third Edition of the COAS Literary Competition 2026 with award prizes, underscoring his dedication to promoting education and intellectual growth among young Nigerians.

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This gesture is a testament to his commitment to fostering a culture of learning and development, as evident in the award presentation ceremony held at the Nigerian Army’s 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Nasarawa State, on Friday.

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The COAS Literary Competition, which is part of the activities lined up to mark the Nigerian Army Day Celebration slated for July 6, 2026, drew participants from Army schools across the country, with the goal of promoting national consciousness and intellectual engagement among young citizens.

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The competition, which was organized nationally, featured essay and poetry categories, among others, and was open to pupils and students of Army schools nationwide, providing a platform for them to express their views on issues of national importance.

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According to Maj. Gen. Olurotimi Awolo, the competition has been held annually, allowing participants to share their thoughts on key issues, including security, patriotism, and peacebuilding, and has yielded impressive results over the years.

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Maj. Gen. Awolo announced that three pupils from the Command Children School in Doma, under the 4 Special Forces Command, emerged as winners of the COAS Literary Competition 2026, including Aminu Zayyanu, Bright Dorasimi, and Hope Emmanuel.

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Aminu Zayyanu took second position in the Primary Essay Category and received a prize of N250,000, while Bright Dorasimi and Hope Emmanuel took third position in the Primary Essay and Primary Poetry categories, respectively, each receiving a prize of N100,000.

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The winners' achievement is a source of pride for the cantonment, with Maj. Gen. Awolo noting that their success demonstrates the school's ability to compete with any other school in the country.

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In addition to the award prizes, each of the pupils will also receive N100,000 from the 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, as a way of celebrating their achievement.

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Hyacinth Vincent-Akuba, the Head Leader of the Command Children School, Doma, attributed the winners' success to their hard work, dedication to their studies, and the guidance of their teachers.

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The theme of this year’s COAS Literary Competition, "The Nigerian Army: The People’s Army, Our Army," reflects the enduring relationship between the Nigerian Army and the citizenry, and has provided a platform for young Nigerians to express their views on issues of national importance.

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Hyacinth Vincent-Akuba expressed his gratitude to the COAS for his magnanimity and for providing the children with an opportunity to participate in the competition and share their thoughts on topical issues.

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Hope Emmanuel, speaking on behalf of the winners, thanked the COAS for the award prizes and assured that they would continue to take their studies seriously to contribute meaningfully to the country's growth and development in the future.

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She also thanked the Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, for his support and encouragement, as well as the teachers of the Command Children School for their guidance and untiring efforts in providing them with a good and sound education.

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Hope Emmanuel concluded by thanking her parents and everyone who encouraged her and her fellow winners, assuring them that they would continue to make them proud by the grace of God.