“Preserving the memory of Kiriji requires more than documenting the past; it also requires creating opportunities for young people to interrogate that history and apply its lessons to present-day challenges”
Winners emerge in Kiriji Essay Competition billed to keep history alive among Nigerian youths
The Kiriji Heritage Conservation Foundation, in partnership with Roving Heights, has announced the winners of its 2026 Kiriji Heritage Essay Competition.
The essay competition, with the theme, “140 Years of Peace, Unity and Yoruba Heritage: Lessons from the Kiriji Peace Treaty for Contemporary Nigeria,” was organised as part of activities marking the 140th anniversary of the Kiriji Peace Treaty.
It was open to students of tertiary institutions across Nigeria and designed to encourage young Nigerians to research, understand and engage with the history of the Kiriji War and the peace treaty that brought the prolonged conflict to an end.
The Foundation said the initiative was conceived not merely as an academic writing contest “but as part of a broader effort to transfer historical knowledge to a new generation and encourage young people to draw practical lessons from the peace-building process that followed the Kiriji conflict”.
The entries were subjected to assessment by a panel of academics including Prof. Toyin Ogunade and Prof. Soji Adejumo, who evaluated the submissions based on participants’ understanding of the Kiriji War and Peace Treaty, knowledge of Yoruba history and heritage, critical analysis, originality of thought, relevance to contemporary Nigeria and quality of presentation.
At the end of the assessment, Musa Abdus-Salam Oyewole of the University of Ilorin, who emerged as the overall winner, won the first prize of N200,000.
Ridwan Bakare of the University of Lagos emerged second while Praise Adekoya of Tai Solarin University of Education emerged third.
The winners are expected to receive their prizes formally at the anniversary programme scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
The anniversary programme will bring together academics, historians, traditional rulers, government representatives, cultural stakeholders, young people and members of the public to reflect on the significance of the Kiriji Peace Treaty and its relevance to contemporary society.
The Foundation said that “the 140th anniversary is merely an opportunity to commemorate a historic peace agreement, but to examine how the values of reconciliation, unity and peaceful conflict resolution can inform Nigeria’s present and future”.
Speaking on behalf of the Kiriji Heritage Conservation Foundation, its Consultant, Prof. Olubukola Oyawoye, said the competition was part of the organisation’s deliberate effort to ensure that the story and lessons of Kiriji remained relevant to younger generations.
Oyawoye expressed appreciation to Roving Heights for supporting the initiative, describing the competition as “an important platform for young Nigerians to discover their history, undertake research and reflect on the values of peace and unity”.
She said the initiative went beyond academic competition, stressing that young people must be given opportunities to understand the historical experiences that shaped their communities and country.
The consultant said, “Preserving the memory of Kiriji requires more than documenting the past; it also requires creating opportunities for young people to interrogate that history and apply its lessons to present-day challenges.
“The Foundation’s position is consistent with the objectives of the essay competition, which include encouraging historical research, critical thinking, cultural awareness and reflection on the relevance of the Kiriji peace process to peacebuilding, unity and national development today”.
Oyawoye also commended the students who participated in the competition, noting that their willingness to research and write about Kiriji demonstrated the importance of exposing younger Nigerians to the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage.
She added that “the partnership with Roving Heights represents an important collaboration in promoting education, reading, writing and historical consciousness among Nigerian youths”.
The representative of Roving Heights had earlier said the organisation was pleased to support an initiative that connects young people with history while encouraging intellectual engagement. The partnership was described as part of a shared commitment to education, literary culture and the preservation of historical memory.
The Foundation noted that the response to the competition further demonstrated the interest that exists among young Nigerians in history and heritage when appropriate platforms are created for them.
The winning essays would contribute to the intellectual documentation surrounding the 140th Anniversary of the Kiriji Peace Treaty, giving contemporary young Nigerians an opportunity to add their voices to the continuing conversation about peace, unity, leadership and heritage.
The emergence of Oyewole, Bakare and Adekoya as the top three winners therefore marks an important component of the anniversary programme, with the Foundation expressing hope that their success will inspire more young Nigerians to take an interest in history, heritage and nation-building.
The Kiriji Heritage Conservation Foundation congratulates the three winners and appreciates all participants, the judging panel and Roving Heights for contributing to the success of the competition.
The Foundation stressed that the ultimate objective was to ensure that the story of Kiriji does not remain confined to history books, but continues to live through the knowledge, research and voices of succeeding generations.
