LAGOS — Clinton Chimenem Agburum, a student of Deeper Life High School, Port Harcourt, has won the 2026 Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for secondary schools and a prize of N1 million. Agburum scored 72 per cent in the first round and 85 per cent in the second, for an overall score of 79 per cent, rising from fourth place after round one to first. Alimi-Adeiga Mosorireoluwa of Holyland Senior College, Ipaja, came second with 75 per cent, while Oloruntimilehin Elijah Oladipo of Isolo Comprehensive Senior High School placed third with 70 per cent. The 2025 winner, Davina Phillips of Bloombreed School, also came from Rivers State. The chief examiner, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, said 850 essays met the entry requirements, but more than 85 per cent showed identifiable signs of artificial intelligence use. For the second round, the seven finalists were asked to write on AI under supervision; five turned up. She described the trend as a wake-up call for curriculum redesign. The prizes were scheduled to be presented at the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture on September 3 at the MUSON Centre, Lagos.