Faustina Enigbewo from St Mary Anglican Primary School, Ijebu-Imusin, has emerged the winner of the third edition of Ijebuland Spelling Bee competition organised for pupils of public schools across the three local government areas in Ijebuland comprising Ijebu East, Ijebu North and Ogun Waterside.
The competition, tagged, ‘Ijebuland Interschool Spelling Bee Competition,’ was organised by the Anwojue Hope Foundation (AHF) and took place at Moslem Primary School, Ijebu-Imusin, Ogun State, involving 24 students from 12 schools in the local government areas.
After rounds of spelling and series of disqualifications, Faustina Enigbewo, Joseph Solomon from Saints Mary’s Anglican Primary School, Ijebu-Imusin and Toluwanimi Ogunlaja from Christ Anglican Primary School, Ijebu-Ife, took the top three winners, respectively.
The winners each got a cash prize of N50,000, N30,000 and N20,000, respectively among other school essentials like notepad and mathematical sets.
Individual awards for the best three spellers in the competition were presented to Lateef Suliyat of Early Education Primary School, Oke Sopen, Ijebu-Igbo, Faustina Enigbewo of Saint Mary’s Anglican Primary School, ijebu-Imusin and Osineye Osimayowa of Christ Disciples Primary School, Atikori, Ijebu Igbo.
The best well-behaved award was presented to Faith Arini from Saint Matthew’s Primary School II, Amutebu, Ijebu Igbo.
In her address, the Executive Director, Anwojue Hope Foundation, Mrs Bieunkah Anwojue, who was represented by the foundation’s Project Manager, Mrs Busayo Eniade, said the annual competition aims to encourage early child literacy in pupils within the local government areas and build their self-esteem and public speaking skills.
Speaking on the event, Olowo Joy Yesuf, a fellow with Teach for Nigeria, Christ Anglican Church Primary School, Ile-Ife, lauded the efforts of the foundation in creating an avenue for healthy competition among pupils through the annual event.
The winners of the competition were also given school bags donated by Dayo Oyeyemi to encourage the competitive spirit of the winners.
Present at the event were the Education Secretary, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, Mr N. Onaniyi; Education Secretary, Ijebu North Local Government Area, Mr Olunuga Gbenga; education officer of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Mr O.A Ogunade, among others.
