Delta State-born student, Tamaradeinmone Jessica Pondy, has emerged as one of the five winners of the Ijaw Women of America Inc. Essay Writing Competition 2026, an educational initiative aimed at encouraging intellectual development and giving young Ijaw scholars a platform to express their ideas on issues affecting the Ijaw Nation.

Pondy, a Junior Secondary School Two (JSS 2) student of Divine Academy Schools, Warri, Delta State, received her prizes at an award presentation held in Port Harcourt on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

She attended the ceremony alongside her parents, Pastor and Mrs. Anthony Pondy, who expressed delight over their daughter's achievement and appreciation to Ijaw Women of America Inc. for creating the opportunity for young people to demonstrate their intellectual abilities.

Among the prizes presented to Pondy were a Lenovo tablet, school bags and writing materials, in recognition of her outstanding performance in the competition.

Speaking after receiving the award, Pondy expressed gratitude to the organisers and said the recognition had inspired her to work even harder in her studies.

“I am very happy and grateful to Ijaw Women of America for giving me this opportunity. I thank God, my parents, my teachers and everyone who encouraged me to participate in the competition. This award has encouraged me to study harder, read more and continue to improve myself. I hope to use my education and my voice to contribute positively to the development of the Ijaw Nation,” Pondy said.

Her parents, Pastor and Mrs. Anthony Pondy, also thanked the organisation for investing in the education and development of Ijaw children, describing the initiative as one capable of motivating students to take their studies more seriously.

“We sincerely appreciate Ijaw Women of America Inc. for this wonderful initiative and for recognising the efforts of our daughter. As parents, we are delighted to see an organisation investing in the education and intellectual development of our children. The gifts are important, but what means even more to us is the encouragement and confidence this achievement has given her,” the parents said.

They added that programmes which promote academic excellence among young people deserved the support of parents, educators and well-meaning individuals across Ijaw communities.

“We encourage them to continue this good work because many more Ijaw children will be inspired through programmes like this. We will also continue to support Jessica and encourage her to remain focused, disciplined and committed to her education,” they added.

A representative of Ijaw Women of America Inc., while presenting the award, congratulated Pondy, applauded her for writing a good essay, and encouraged her not to regard the achievement as an end in itself, but as motivation to pursue greater academic excellence. The representative further urged her to make good use of the educational materials presented to her, particularly the tablet, as a tool for learning and intellectual development.

The 2026 Ijaw Women of America Inc. Essay Writing Competition invited secondary school students of Ijaw extraction to express their thoughts on a subject of major significance to the Niger Delta and the future of Ijaw communities.

Participants were required to write between 500 and 750 words on the topic: “The Future of Ijaw Nation in the Midst of Oil Exploitation in Ijaw Communities.”

The topic challenged young participants to reflect on the condition and future of Ijaw communities against the backdrop of decades of petroleum exploration and exploitation across the Niger Delta.

The competition provided a platform for students to examine issues surrounding natural resources, environmental sustainability, community development and the responsibility of younger generations in shaping the future of the Ijaw Nation.

According to the competition guidelines, five winners were to emerge, with each receiving a Lenovo tablet and cash reward. The exercise was open to secondary school students of Ijaw extraction, while entries were expected to fall within the stipulated 500-to-750-word limit.

The competition was promoted with the theme, “Share Your Voice. Shape Our Future!”, reflecting the organisation's determination to encourage young people to become informed participants in discussions about the challenges and opportunities facing their communities.

For Pondy, emerging among the winners represents an important academic milestone at an early stage of her secondary education.

Her achievement also demonstrates the value of educational competitions in developing writing, research, critical-thinking and communication skills among young students while encouraging them to engage with issues affecting their immediate communities.

Her parents said the recognition would serve as further motivation for the young scholar to pursue academic excellence and remain committed to her education.

Beyond celebrating individual winners, the programme underscores the importance of deliberate investment in the intellectual development of the younger generation, particularly in communities where young people will eventually inherit responsibility for addressing longstanding economic, environmental and developmental challenges.

As Pondy returns to her studies at Divine Academy Schools in Warri with renewed encouragement, her success stands as an inspiration to other young Ijaw students to embrace education, reading, writing and intellectual development.

Through initiatives such as the essay competition, Ijaw Women of America Inc. is reinforcing the message that preparing an enlightened, confident and educated younger generation remains crucial to building a stronger future for the Ijaw Nation.

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