In an effort to encourage reading culture and intellectual development among young Nigerians, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Waidi Shaibu, has presented award prizes to outstanding winners of the Third Edition of the COAS Literary Competition 2026.
Speaking at the award prize-giving ceremony at the Nigerian Army’s 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Nasarawa State, the COAS said the competition, which had participants from Army schools in commands across the country, was part of activities to mark this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration, scheduled for July 6, 2026.
The COAS, who was represented by the Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Major General Olurotimi-Awolo, affirmed that the literary competition, which was organised nationally, targeted promoting national consciousness, intellectual engagement and young citizens’ participation in nation-building.
Major General Awolo explained that the competition, which ranged from essay and poetry categories, among others, was open to participation by pupils and students of Army schools across the country.
According to him, through the competition, 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.
The Commander further announced that three pupils from the Children Army School in Doma under the 4 Special Forces Command emerged as winners of the COAS Literary Competition 2026.
His words: “We have Aminu Zayyanu who took second position in the Primary Essay Category and was awarded a prize of N250,000. We also have Bright Dorasimi who took third position in the Primary Essay Category and was awarded a prize of N100,000, and Hope Emmanuel who took third position in the Primary Poetry Category and was 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.”
Major General Awolo, however, maintained that as a way to celebrate the winners, apart from the award prizes given to them by the COAS, each of the pupils will also receive the sum of N100,000 from the 4 Special Forces Command, Doma.
On his part, Head Leader of the Children Army School Command, 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 about issues of topical interest in the country.
Umar Muhammed
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