The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has presented award prizes to outstanding winners of the Third Edition of the COAS Literary Competition 2026.
This he noted as part of his commitment to fostering education and intellectual development among young Nigerians.
Speaking during the award presentation ceremony at the Nigerian Army’s 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Nasarawa State, on Friday, the COAS said the competition, which had participants from Army schools across the country, was part of activities lined up to mark this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration, slated for July 6, 2026.
The COAS, who was represented by the Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Maj. Gen. Olurotimi Awolo, explained that the literary competition, which was organised nationally, aimed to promote national consciousness, intellectual engagement, and young citizens’ participation in nation-building.
Maj. Gen. Awolo said the competition, which featured essay and poetry categories, among others, was open to pupils and students of Army schools across the country.
He said that through the competition, which is held annually, participants over the years had been able to express their views on issues of national importance, particularly in the areas of security, patriotism, and peacebuilding.
Maj. Gen. Awolo further 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.
He said, “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.
“So, today we are gathered here to celebrate Aminu, Bright, and Hope, who have made this cantonment proud. And they have done so well in the Chief of Army Staff Literary Competition for 2026, which is part of the Nigerian Army Day celebrations for this year.
“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.”
He added that, as a way of celebrating with the winners, apart from the award prizes given to them by the COAS, each of the pupils would also receive the sum of N100,000 from the 4 Special Forces Command, Doma.
On his part, the Head Leader of the Command Children School, Doma, Hyacinth Vincent-Akuba, said the Chief of Army Staff competition started sometime last year and culminated early this year before the winners finally emerged.
“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.
“The teachers are not left out too. They have used their time, their energy, their resources to see that they guide the students, educate them very well both academically, morally and otherwise, and we have seen their efforts in our own children today,” he said.
He said the theme for this year’s COAS Literary Competition, tagged “The Nigerian Army: The People’s Army, Our Army,” reflects the enduring relationship between the Nigerian Army and the citizenry.
The Head Leader of the school further expressed his gratitude to the COAS for his magnanimity and for giving the children the opportunity to express their views and minds on issues of topical interest in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the winners, Hope Emmanuel, a Primary 4 pupil of the Command Children School, Doma, expressed gratitude to the COAS for the award prizes, assuring that they would continue to take their studies seriously in order to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the country in the future.