A secondary school student in Ibadan with a good essay and a head of school who is rarely in the office has a real chance here, if she starts early. The Nigerian Army has announced the second edition of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Literary Competition 2027, with prizes of up to ₦10 million in total. This guide explains who can enter, what each category requires and how to avoid losing an entry on a technicality.
All facts below come from the scholarship listing page we reviewed (linked at the end). Because that page is a secondary listing, confirm everything on the official entry portal it names, dcma.army.mil.ng, before you submit anything.
The key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Organiser | Nigerian Army |
| Theme | "The Nigerian Army: Securing the people and promoting development" |
| Open from | Sunday, 1 November 2026 |
| Deadline | Monday, 31 May 2027 (late uploads are not considered) |
| Who can enter | Nigerians in primary school (5 to 11), secondary school (12 to 17) and tertiary institutions (18 to 24) |
| Categories | Essay, art (painting and drawing only), poetry |
| Language test | Not required |
Who is eligible
The competition is for Nigerian children and youth in school. The listing groups entrants by age band: 5 to 11 for primary, 12 to 17 for secondary and 18 to 24 for tertiary institutions. The listing describes the tertiary level as undergraduate students.
Your age band and school level both matter. If you are 25 or older, or you are a graduate not currently in school, the listing gives no sign that you qualify.
The prizes
Winners also receive certificates and are given their prizes at a specially organised event. The listing gives these amounts:
| Level | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary (5 to 11) | ₦1,000,000 | ₦750,000 | ₦500,000 |
| Secondary (12 to 17) | ₦1,500,000 | ₦1,200,000 | ₦750,000 |
| Tertiary (18 to 24) | ₦2,000,000 | ₦1,500,000 | ₦1,000,000 |
Those figures add up to the ₦10.2 million the page lists as the award amount for the essay category. Check the portal to see whether the art and poetry categories carry separate prizes.
Rules for each category
Essay
- Coin your own topic from the theme. Don't just copy the theme as your title.
- Primary and secondary essays must not exceed 2,000 words. Tertiary essays must be 3,000 to 5,000 words.
- The essay must be your own original thinking.
Art
- The work must have a bearing on the theme.
- Only painting and drawing are accepted.
- Add a short caption.
- It must be original and not previously published. Photograph or scan it, then upload.
Poetry
- Any genre, but it must relate to the theme.
- Maximum of 200 words, in English.
- It must be original.
How the entry process works
- Read the theme and choose one category. The page lists three competitions. Pick the one where you are strongest.
- Complete the application form online. The form must then be printed.
- Get it endorsed and stamped by your Head of School. This is the step most likely to cause delay.
- Scan the endorsed form.
- Upload your entry and the scanned form at dcma.army.mil.ng before 31 May 2027.
Assessment has two levels. First an initial assessment shortlists candidates. Then shortlisted candidates have a virtual interaction with a team of assessors before winners are chosen. Winners are told by email and through their schools, and results are published on the webpage.
A hypothetical timeline for a university student
Say Amaka is a 300-level student, aged 21, writing a 3,500-word essay. Here is a realistic plan, not an official one.
- November: choose a narrow angle on the theme, such as how community relations affect local security and development in her state.
- December to January: research and outline. Write the first draft in sections of about 500 words.
- February: revise, cut repetition and check the word count is inside 3,000 to 5,000.
- March: fill in the form and ask the Head of School for the stamp. Offices close for holidays and strikes happen, so early is safer.
- April: upload with a margin of weeks, not hours, in case the site is slow or power and data fail.
Mistakes that cost entries
- Plagiarism. An entry found not original at any stage is disqualified. Don't paste from the internet, past winners or AI tools. Write in your own words.
- Submitting after the deadline. Late entries are not considered.
- Going over the word limit. Primary and secondary essays cap at 2,000 words. Poems cap at 200.
- Using the wrong art medium. Only painting and drawing count.
- Skipping the stamp. The form must be endorsed and stamped by the Head of School.
- Ignoring the theme. Every category must connect to it.
Also note that all entries may be published in Nigerian Army journals and periodicals. Only submit work you are happy to see published.
Staying safe
The listing mentions no application fee. Do not pay anyone who promises to "guarantee" a win or to submit for you. Type the portal address yourself rather than following links in WhatsApp messages. Our guide on confirming a government site is official and our piece on another Nigerian university scholarship may help you compare.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to write an essay to enter?
No. You can enter the art or poetry competition instead. The "essay required: no" note on the listing refers to the application itself.
Is it a scholarship?
It is a prize competition. The listing labels it a competition with cash prizes, not a tuition scholarship.
Can I enter more than one category?
The page doesn't say. Check the rules on the official portal.
Can graduates or NYSC members enter?
The listing covers primary, secondary and tertiary students only, so graduates don't appear to qualify.
Next step
Open dcma.army.mil.ng today, read the full rules and note the form requirements. Then ask your Head of School when the office can stamp your form. Source reviewed: Scholarship Region listing.
Sources
Details checked against the official sources above on 5 November 2026. Things change, so confirm on the official site before you act.
Scholarship details, deadlines and eligibility can change. Always confirm on the official website before applying, and never pay anyone who promises to "guarantee" a scholarship.