ICCEF Commences Intra-School Reading and Essay Competition Across Public and Private Schools in Lagos

Lagos, Nigeria — February 4th 2026

The Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation (ICCEF) has formally announced the commencement of its Intra-School Reading and Essay Competition, a structured five-week literacy programme designed to promote reading culture, critical thinking, and effective writing skills among secondary school students in both public and private schools.

The programme, scheduled to run from February to March 2026, will engage students in the participating secondary schools in a guided reading and essay-writing process centred on Against All Odds: The Biography of Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma. Mr. Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma was a renowned student and human rights activist in the 80s and 90s; a good governance advocate; social justice crusader; gender and youth empowerment advocate; justice sector reformer; and election monitoring expert. He founded the foremost justice sector reform organization known as CLEEN Foundation; and Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria, NOPRIN, before becoming the first Nigerian to be appointed Regional Director of Ford Foundation Office for West Africa.

His biography inspires and teaches morals such as honesty, hard work, dedication and resilience. Through facilitated discussions and writing exercises, students will be encouraged to deepen their comprehension skills, refine their written expression, and engage meaningfully with themes of resilience, leadership, and social impact.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening literacy outcomes while fostering confidence, analytical reasoning, and creativity among young learners. By extending participation to public and private schools, the Foundation seeks to promote inclusivity and equal access to quality educational opportunities. The competition aligns with its broader mandate of youth empowerment through education and serves as a platform for nurturing a new generation of thoughtful readers and articulate writers.

ICCEF is excited and optimistic that this program which it is piloting in seven (7) public and private schools, with plans to expand to more schools, will not only promote a reading culture amongst youths, but also enhance their knowledge of social issues that are critical to their personal development and societal advancement.

About ICCEF The Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation (ICCEF) is a non-profit organization with a vision of an inclusive society where young women and men are positively impacting their communities and driving positive change. It is committed to empowering young people through education, literary development, and leadership-focused initiatives.