Students Unleash Talent, Win N.4m Prizes In Multiple Competitions

LEADERSHIP Group Limited, publishers of LEADERSHIP Newspapers, has once again raised the bar in Children’s Day events this year, with a logo design competition in addition to its annual essay writing and spelling competitions for schoolchildren.

In this year’s edition which retained the theme, “The Nigeria We Want,” winners of the competitions received cash prizes and other gift items, including school bags, worth N400,000.

The media organisation said in a bid to further harness the potential of children, it organised the logo design competition alongside spelling and essay writing competition to mark the 2023 edition of children’s day celebration for school children across Abuja.

The event which took place at the corporate headquarters of LEADERSHIP Group Ltd also featured a talk show on LEADERSHIP Podcast studio.

It would be recalled that last year, the media outfit organised a fun-filled children’s spelling bee, writing and singing competition for over 35 schoolchildren in Abuja.

This year, the organisation added to the content by introducing a logo competition, engaging young people aged 13-19 by inviting them to design a unique LEADERSHIP logo.

In his remarks at the opening of the event, the Senior Vice Chairman/Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP, Mr. Azu Ishiekwene, said ‘the Nigeria that we want’ cannot be achieved without investment in children.

He said the aim of the event was to further inspire the children to arrive at their potential.

Also, communication specialist, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Mr Geoffrey Njoku, hailed LEADERSHIP for establishing the child-friendly initiative, recognising child’s rights and working with the children to achieve their potential.

He said the programmes being adopted by the media organisation are in line with what UNICEF stands for, while stressing the need for the society to apply the Child Right Act laws.

Njoku said children have the right to the best health care, including clean water to drink, healthy food, and a clean and safe environment to live in as well as good education, adding that every child has the right to participate and have a say.

In this regard, he commended the organisation for giving the children access to participate by involving them in discussions.

Speaking about the devastating effect of emotional violence against children, Njoku said, “It is compulsory for children to be in school for 9 years; from Primary 1 to Jss 3. How a society treats its children is an indication of how the society will be in future.

“So, if Nigeria has 20 million out-of-school children, where are we heading to? Disaster? If Nigeria doesn’t protect the rights of these children, where are we heading to?” He queried.

According to UNICEF’s recent global data, 60 percent of out-of-school children are girls while 3.5 million are from the nomadic background.

Head of story at LEADERSHIP, Mr Bayo Amodu, said the event became necessary to inspire the children so as to bring out the greatness in them.

Two female students, Blessing Ugo and Annabel Ehizo, emerged overall winners of the essay and logo design competition, winning N50,000 and N100,000 consecutively.

Blessing, a JSS 3 student of Great Miracle Montessori School Abuja, beat 14 other competitors to clinch the top essay prize at the competition. She received N50,000 cash and was awarded a certificate for her feat.

“I will give one-tenth of the money to God and the rest to my mother, who helped coach me,” she said.

The aspiring medical doctor was accompanied to the event by her Teacher, Mr Donald, whom she thanked for coaching and adequately preparing her for the competition.

Fareeda Abdul emerged second in the essay/spelling bee category, winning N30,000, while Oche Peter went home with N20,000 for third place. All top contenders were awarded certificates.

The students appreciated LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group for giving them the opportunity to express themselves.

Meanwhile, the overall logo design winner, Annabel, a JSS 3 student of Noble Heights Academy, Abuja, expressed joy and gratitude for winning the N100,000 grand prize.

“This whole experience has been amazing for me. I am overwhelmed with joy. Last year, I won a visual art competition but I wanted to take my drawing to another level. So I started doing digital art. This is my first time entering a digital art competition and I am very happy that everything went well and I am very happy to be here today,” she said.

Participants of the logo contest designed unique LEADERSHIP Logos that reflected transition into a new government.

Annabel thanked LEADERSHIP for the opportunity, saying she intended to give 10 percent of the prize money to God, while the rest of it will go to her mother who will help her save it.

Second and third place logo design contestants, Aderigibe Favour Adeniyi and Dominion Chukwudulem Okechukwu, received N75,000 and N50,000 cash prizes consecutively, while others received school bags as consolation prizes.

Some of the participating schools were Government Secondary School Wuse Zone 3, Living Spring Model School, Faith Academy, Starlight Academy, Amicable International Academy, Foursquare New Height Academy, Nudivine College and Glorious Start Global School.

Emmanuel Pamela, a student of Government Secondary School (GSS), Garki, Abuja, who participated in the essay writing contest urged the government to create a conducive environment for children to strive.

“The essay is all about the Nigeria that we want, so I’m sure everybody wants a Nigeria that’s working, where there is peace and order,” shae stated.

Another student, Elem Joyclare Kasarachi, commended the media organisation for the event, while expressing desire to participate in it again.

“I participated in essay writing and the experience was so beautiful and I got to see other faces and other competitors who are ready for the competition. I’ll also like to participate again because I like competing with other people,” Kasarachi said.