Varsity Students, Others Shine At Spelling Bee Contest

A student of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Ogundele Inioluwa Esther, has emerged the overall winner of a national spelling bee competition for tertiary institutions in Nigeria, winning a cash prize of N1 million.

The maiden competition was organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Office of the Vice President, Inter-campus Affairs in Abuja, on Wednesday.

LEADERSHIP Friday reports that over 150 tertiary institutions participated across the six geopolitical zones.

The competition, according to the organiser, was aimed at fostering better relationships and intellectual exchange among the students.

Comrade Vanessa Egbeahie, NANS vice president Inter-campus affairs, the convener of the programme, also announced that Anthony Tamaradoubra Elijah of Federal Petroleum Resources Effurun, Delta State won N750,000 as a zone and first runner up.

Also, Mu‘ad Sadiq Mohammad of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi (ATBU) emerged 2nd runner up (3rd position) Zone E, winning N500,000, while Aboi Blessing Nuhu Bamalli of Zaria Polytechnic, Kaduna finished as a 4th runner up and won N300,000.

More so, Nnaji Loveth Chidera of the Institute of Management Technology, Enugu finished as 5th runner Up (6th position), winning N300,000 while Dakup Naankang Hygenus, from University of Jos won N300,000 as a third runner up.

According to Egbeahie, “The reason for this programme is to foster a better relationship within our 430 campuses in Nigeria.

“So, we don‘t just come to Abuja for a convention but to also have that relationship, get to know ourselves, compete and also do things that will be beneficial to all.

“It is very imperative in our modern-day society for us to be educated. Education is the key. We have over 150 institutions in Nigeria that registered to compete for this Programme.

“Now, the first winner goes home with one million and the second winner N750, 000, the third winner N500,000 and the forth, fifth and sixth winners go home with N300,000 each,“ she noted.