PHOTOS: COAS honours outstanding essay, poetry winners in army schools

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has honored outstanding winners of the Third Edition of the COAS Literary Competition 2026, underscoring his commitment to nurturing education and intellectual growth among Nigerian youth.

The award ceremony, held at the Nigerian Army’s 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, Nasarawa State, highlighted the competition's role in marking this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration. The national competition, involving Army schools nationwide, aims to promote national consciousness, intellectual engagement, and youth participation in nation-building.

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We have Aminu Zayyanu who took second position in the Primary Essay Category and awarded a prize of N250,000. We also have Bright Dorasimi who took third position in the Primary Essay Category, and awarded a prize of N100,000, and Hope Emmanuel who took third position in the Primary Poetry Category and awarded a prize of N100,000.

Maj. Gen. Olurotimi Awolo, Commander of the 4 Special Forces Command, who represented the COAS, stated that the competition, featuring essay and poetry categories, encourages pupils and students to express views on national issues like security, patriotism, and peacebuilding.

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For Aminu, Bright, and Hope to have excelled, not just in Nasarawa State alone, but in the whole country, then it just goes to show that we have a school in Doma Cantonment that can compete with any other school in the country.

Three pupils from the Command Children School in Doma achieved significant success. Aminu Zayyanu secured second place in the Primary Essay Category, winning N250,000. Bright Dorasimi took third place in the same category, receiving N100,000. Hope Emmanuel also earned third place in the Primary Poetry Category, awarded N100,000. These winners have brought pride to their cantonment and demonstrated the school's competitive standing nationwide.

In addition to the COAS prizes, the 4 Special Forces Command will award each of the three pupils an additional N100,000. The Head Leader of the Command Children School, Hyacinth Vincent-Akuba, praised the winners for their dedication to studies and listening to their teachers, noting that their national victory has elevated the school's profile.

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The winners devoted time to their studies, listened to their teachers and then performed very well. With this victory achieved by our children, we are now known nationwide.