The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has invited Nigerian children and youths to showcase their ideas, creativity, and innovative thinking through the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Literary Competition.
The competition began on 21 November 2025 and will close on 28 February 2026. All entries are to be submitted online through the designated submission portals.
The 2025/2026 edition was introduced on the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke. Young Nigerians are invited to submit original works in three categories: Essay, Poetry, and Art.
Theme
The theme for this year’s competition is:
“Optimising Emerging Technologies for Enhanced Air Operations.”
All entries must align with the NAF Day 2026 theme, as specified under each category. Submissions that do not follow the theme may be disqualified.
Who Can Apply (Age Categories)
The competition is open to Nigerian pupils and students in the following age groups:
- Primary School: 5–11 years
- Secondary School: 12–17 years
- Tertiary Institutions: 18–24 years
Applicants must ensure they apply under the correct category and age bracket.
General Submission Requirements (All Categories)
All applicants are required to provide the following:
- A valid phone number and email address
- A passport photograph in jpg, jpeg, or png format (maximum of 150kb)
- A literary or artwork file uploaded in PDF format (maximum of 1MB)
Only files that meet the stated format and size limits will be accepted.
CAS Essay Competition (Tertiary Institutions)
This category is open to students in tertiary institutions only.
Eligibility and Guidelines
- Applicants must be between 18 and 24 years old
- The essay topic must be derived from the NAF Day 2026 theme
- The essay must be original
Word Count and Submission
- Maximum of 2,000 words
- Essay must be uploaded in PDF format
- Submission deadline: 28 February 2026
Essay Prizes
- 1st Prize: ₦2,000,000
- 2nd Prize: ₦1,500,000
- 3rd Prize: ₦1,000,000
CAS Poetry Competition (Secondary Schools)
This category is open to secondary school students only.
Eligibility and Guidelines
- Applicants must be 12–17 years old
- The poem must reflect the NAF Day 2026 theme
- The poem must be original and written in English
Length and Submission
- Maximum of 300 words
- Poem must be uploaded in PDF format
- Submission deadline: 28 February 2026
Poetry Prizes
- 1st Prize: ₦1,500,000
- 2nd Prize: ₦1,250,000
- 3rd Prize: ₦1,000,000
CAS Art Competition (Primary Schools)
This category is open to primary school pupils only.
Eligibility and Artwork Guidelines
- Applicants must be 5–11 years old
- Artwork must align with the NAF Day 2026 theme
- Only painting and drawing are accepted
- The artwork must be original and unpublished
- Each entry must include a short title or caption
Submission Details
- Artwork must be uploaded in PDF format
- Submission deadline: 28 February 2026
Art Prizes
- 1st Prize: ₦1,000,000
- 2nd Prize: ₦750,000
- 3rd Prize: ₦500,000
Official Website
For full guidelines and submission links, applicants are advised to visit the official CAS Literary Competition website.
