NBA-SPIDEL Invites Entries for 2026 Essay, Poetry and Spoken Word Competition

The Nigerian Bar Association – Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) invites entries for the 2026 Essay, Poetry & Spoken Word Competition as part of activities marking its Annual Conference themed “IN PUBLIC INTEREST: ‘ADVANCING JUSTICE, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT’.”

The competition aims to inspire young legal minds to reflect on the interconnection between justice, ethical governance, and sustainable development in Nigeria, while promoting creativity and advocacy through written and spoken expression.

Categories of Entry

1. Young Lawyers Category

Open to all legal practitioners who have been called to the Nigerian Bar within the last seven years — i.e., Call Years 2018–2026.

Participants in this category may submit entries in any of the following subcategories:

(i) Essay Writing: Analytical or argumentative essays (1,500–2,000 words) addressing the conference theme or any aspect of justice, accountability, and development in Nigeria.

(ii) Poetry: Original poems (maximum 40 lines) inspired by the conference theme.

(iii) Spoken Word Performance: Audio or video presentation (maximum 3 minutes) creatively exploring the theme.

2. Law Students Category

Open to all registered undergraduate law students in Nigerian universities and law faculties.

Subcategories include:

(i) Essay Writing: 1,000–1,500 words, well-researched and original essays on the conference theme.

(ii) Poetry: Original compositions (not exceeding 35 lines).

(iii) Spoken Word Performance: Recorded presentation (not exceeding 3 minutes) exploring the theme creatively.

Guidelines for Submission

1. All entries must be original, unpublished works reflecting the conference theme.
2. Each participant may submit only one entry per subcategory.
3. Essays should be in Word or PDF format, with Times New Roman font, size 12, double spacing.
4. Poetry entries should be clearly titled, with the author’s name and contact details on a separate cover page.
5. Spoken Word submissions should be in MP4 or MP3 format (not exceeding 25MB).
6. All entries must include: Full Name, Institution / Law School / Call Year, Category (Young Lawyer or Law Student), Contact Phone Number, and Email Address.

Submissions should be sent via email to: nbaspidel2026competition@gmail.com

Subject line: “NBA-SPIDEL 2026 Essay/Poetry/Spoken Word Competition –[Category]”.

Deadlines and Key Dates

• Deadline for Submission: 5th November 2026
• Screening and Evaluation Period: 6th to 8th November 2026
• Announcement of Results: 9th November 2026
• Award Presentation: During the NBA-SPIDEL 2026 Conference Opening Ceremony on 10th November 2026, Umuahia, Abia State.

Prizes and Recognition

Separate prizes will be awarded in each subcategory (Essay, Poetry, Spoken Word) under both the Young Lawyers and Law Students categories.

1st Prize: Plaque of Excellence + N75,000 Cash Award + Publication in SPIDEL Conference Report and other related visibility platforms.

2nd Prize: Certificate of Participation + N50,000 Cash Award + Publication in SPIDEL Conference Report and other related visibility platforms.

3rd Prize: Certificate of Participation + N25,000 Cash Award + Publication in SPIDEL Conference Report and other related visibility platforms.

All winners will receive official certificates and will be formally presented at the NBA-SPIDEL Conference Dinner on 12th November 2026.

Selected works may also be featured in the conference magazine and official social media platforms.

Judging Criteria

• Relevance to Theme
• Originality and Creativity
• Depth of Analysis / Insightfulness
• Quality of Expression (Language, Structure, and Delivery)
• Adherence to Guidelines

Enquiries

For further information, please contact:

Email: nbaspidel2026competitions@gmail.com

Phone: +234 902 432 7026, 0806 358 0823

NBA-SPIDEL 2026 Conference Essay, Poetry & Spoken Word Competition Secretariat

IMPORTANT DEADLINE NOTICE: The submission deadline is 5 November 2026. As of 27 October 2026, the deadline is still ahead. Interested young lawyers and law students should submit their entries before the stated closing date.