Chief Of Army Staff Literary Competition For Nigerians (₦10m Prizes)

The Chief Of Army Staff Literary Competition is back for the 2025/2026 edition, and Nigerian students now have the chance to compete for over ₦10 million in prizes across essay, art, and poetry categories. This nationwide contest is open to pupils in primary school, students in secondary school, and undergraduates in tertiary institutions across the country.

Chief Of Army Staff Literary Competition Summary

Host: Nigerian Army
Category: High School Scholarships | Undergraduate Scholarships | Competitions
Eligible Country: Nigeria
Reward: ₦10m Prizes & Awards
IELTS Required: No
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Scholarship Alerts: To receive Scholarship Alerts on WhatsApp, click HERE

The Nigerian Army has officially launched the COAS Literary Competitions 2025, themed:

“The Nigerian Army: Securing the people and promoting development.”

The competition runs from 1st October 2024 to 31st March 2025, and entries submitted after the deadline will not be considered. All submissions must be 100% original, free from plagiarism, and winners will be notified via email, their schools, and through the competition’s webpage.

Chief Of Army Staff Literary Competition

Competition Categories

The COAS Literary Competition is open to applicants aged:

5-11 years: Primary school
12-17 years: Secondary school
18-24 years: Tertiary institutions

The competition features three categories:

COAS Essay Competition
COAS Art Competition
COAS Poetry Competition

See also:

Eligibility Requirements for Chief Of Army Staff Literary Competition 2026

To participate, applicants must follow these conditions:

Primary & secondary school applicants must complete the online form, print it, get it stamped by their School Head, scan, and upload it.
Tertiary institution applicants must complete their registration online.
Screening will include two stages:
- Initial shortlisting
- Virtual assessment with a team of evaluators
Any plagiarized or unoriginal entry will be automatically disqualified.
Accepted entries may be published in official Nigerian Army publications.

Specific Entry Rules

Topics must be derived from the theme.
Primary & Secondary: max 2,000 words
Tertiary: 3,000 – 5,000 words
Content must reflect the original thoughts of the participant.

Benefits of the Chief Of Army Staff Literary Competition 2026

COAS Essay Competition Prizes

Ages 5–11:

1st: ₦250,000
2nd: ₦100,000
3rd: ₦50,000

Ages 12-17:

1st: ₦600,000
2nd: ₦250,000
3rd: ₦100,000

Ages 18-24:

1st: ₦1,000,000
2nd: ₦500,000
3rd: ₦200,000

COAS Art Competition Prizes

Ages 5–11:

1st: ₦250,000
2nd: ₦100,000
3rd: ₦50,000

Ages 12-17:

1st: ₦600,000
2nd: ₦250,000
3rd: ₦100,000

Ages 18-24:

1st: ₦1,000,000
2nd: ₦500,000
3rd: ₦200,000

COAS Poetry Competition Prizes

Ages 5–11:

1st: ₦250,000
2nd: ₦100,000
3rd: ₦50,000

Ages 12-17:

1st: ₦600,000
2nd: ₦250,000
3rd: ₦100,000

Ages 18-24:

1st: ₦1,000,000
2nd: ₦500,000
3rd: ₦200,000

Winners will also receive certificates and may have their works published.

How to Apply for the Chief Of Army Staff Literary Competition (Step by Step)

Visit the Nigerian military’s official website using the link below.
Download or complete the application form online.
For primary/secondary students:
- Print, endorse, stamp, scan, and re-upload the form.
For tertiary institution participants:
- Complete the online registration entirely on the portal.
Prepare your essay, artwork, or poem following the guidelines.
Snap or scan your entry clearly.
Upload your entry before 31st March 2026.
Wait for the shortlist and assessment stage.
Winners will be contacted and invited to receive their prizes at an official ceremony.