16th Spelling Bee One Day Lagos Governor Emerges
The sixteenth One-Day Governor of Lagos State has emerged in a keenly contested grand finale of the Spelling Bee competition at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa. Olufemi Olaseinde of Shasha Community Senior High School, Alimosho emerged the overall winner beating Komolafe Kehinde of Immaculate Heart Senior Secondary School, Kosofe and Okinbaloye Rashidat of Ilupeju Snr. Grammar School, Ilupeju to the second and third position respectively.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule who represented the Governor at the event commended all the participants for displaying brilliance, noting that she felt a sense of fulfillment as the Superintendent of the Ministry of Education that is delivering on her electoral promises in the area of quality education delivery, while she also reiterated that like the past winners of the competition, Olufemi will be awarded Lagos State Government scholarship to pursue any course of his interest in any university in the country.
While commending Senator Oluremi Tinubu for initiating the competition, the Deputy Governor noted that past winners have continued to excel and have distinguished themselves in university education, coming out with top grades which have helped to position them for good jobs.
The first winner of the competition in 2001, Ebuka Anisiobi, she recalled enjoyed scholarship from the Lagos State Government to study Computer Engineering in Obafemi Awolowo University and is now a qualified Engineer with OANDO Plc;
Winner of the 2002 edition, Tope Adeyemi graduated with first class Degree in Botany from the University of Lagos and also became the youngest Doctorate Degree holder in Africa in the history of the University, While Emmanuel Ayenitaju, the winner of 2003 graduated with First Class honors Degree in Chemistry from the University of Lagos.
According to Dr. Adebule, the success story is not limited to the winners only as many of the students who participated in the past competitions have also excelled in their various fields exemplified by Alex Ezenagu, the third place winner of 2004 edition who bagged a First Class Degree in Law at both the University of Ibadan and excelled at the Nigerian Law School.
Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode who was represented at the event by Mrs. Kemi Durosinmi-Etti in her address recalled that the Spelling Bee competition was conceived several years ago to generate healthy rivalry among pupils of public schools in Lagos State and opined that it has lived up to the great vision of the initiator.
She said “today, we can proudly parade our pupils and show their stuff to the world. Anyone that is a keen follower of this competition since the past years will attest to the high standard obtainable among our pupils”
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi noted that the competition has produced 15 winners and many worthy ambassadors of Lagos State since 2001.
Adesina reiterated that the annual competition attracts several benefits, chief of which is the overall winner getting to be the One Day Governor of Lagos State and along with the first and second runners up will also have the opportunity of an educational exchange programme outside the country precisely Finland, noting that this has been a source of motivation for the students to strive hard for excellence.
He recalled that in order to get to this level, participants have gone through tough preliminary competitions at their various 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas before emerging.
He commended the students for their hard work and diligence, urging them to see the competition as a healthy rivalry, whilst he also thanked the teachers for grooming the pupils and the sponsors for adding impetus with the array of gifts for all the participants.
