“The competition seeks to encourage students and young Nigerians to explore the historical significance of the Kiriji War and Peace Treaty while examining its enduring lessons for peace, unity, leadership and nation-building”
Roving Heights partners Kiriji Heritage Foundation to Champion History, Peace, Youth Education
By John Odunayo
Roving Heights has partnered with the Kiriji Heritage Conservation Foundation to support its Essay Competition as part of activities marking the 140th Anniversary of the Kiriji Peace Treaty.
The Kiriji Essay Competition is an initiative to engage young people in historical research, peace-building and the preservation of cultural heritage.
The competition seeks to encourage students and young Nigerians to explore the historical significance of the Kiriji War and Peace Treaty while examining its enduring lessons for peace, unity, leadership and nation-building.
Speaking on the partnership, Miss Mra Ebunoluwa, representative of Roving Heights, said the organisation was proud to support an initiative that connects young people with history while encouraging intellectual engagement.
She said, “We are pleased to be part of the Kiriji Essay Competition because we believe that education goes beyond the classroom. Young people need to understand where we are coming from in order to better appreciate where we are going.
“Supporting this competition gives students the opportunity to research, think critically and engage with important lessons from our history, particularly the values of peace and unity,” Ebunoluwa said.
Also speaking, the Consultant to the Foundation, Prof. Olubukola Oyawoye, appreciated Roving Heights for its support and commitment to the Foundation’s vision, saying, “We are grateful to Roving Heights for recognising the importance of this initiative and supporting our efforts to take the story and lessons of Kiriji to a new generation.
“This competition is more than an academic exercise. It is a platform for young people to discover their history, engage with the ideals of peace and unity, and reflect on how those lessons remain relevant today,” Oyawoye said.
The Foundation noted that the essay competition forms part of its wider programme to commemorate 140 years since the historic Kiriji Peace Treaty, with a focus on preserving historical memory and creating opportunities for young people to actively participate in heritage conversations.
The competition is expected to attract entries from students across tertiary institutions. Submitted essays will be evaluated by qualified judges, with outstanding participants receiving cash prizes and other forms of recognition.
The partnership represents a significant collaboration between the private sector and a heritage organisation towards advancing youth education, cultural preservation and historical awareness.
The 140th Anniversary of the Kiriji Peace Treaty, themed around peace, unity and Yoruba heritage, will feature a series of activities bringing together academics, traditional rulers, historians, government representatives, cultural stakeholders and young people to reflect on the significance of the treaty and its relevance to contemporary society.
For Roving Heights, the partnership also reflects a natural extension of its longstanding commitment to books, reading and literary culture.
Established in 2015, the family-owned Nigerian bookstore has grown into a recognised brand in the Nigerian book industry, offering books across diverse genres while creating literary experiences and supporting the local publishing community, including self-published authors.
By supporting the Kiriji Essay Competition, Roving Heights is therefore not only contributing financially to the initiative, but also extending its broader mission of fostering a thriving book and reading culture to the preservation of history and heritage.
Its support provides young people with a platform to read, research, write and engage intellectually with an important chapter of Nigerian history, reinforcing the shared belief that books, education and historical knowledge remain powerful tools for shaping informed and culturally conscious generations.
