Delta State government has confirmed that efforts to encourage reading habit among students in the state has been yielding results.
Governor lfeanyi Okowa disclosed in Asaba during the Nelson Mandela Garden and Lodges Spelling Bee competition 2022, saying the competition would elicit positive interest among children and youths.
While commending the students’ proficiency in the knowledge of English Language, particularly spelling, vocabulary and also their schools for taking teaching of diction seriously, he encouraged them to take up careers in some of the various professions mentioned .
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Government House and Protocols, Rotarian Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, he emphasised its importance and the competition encouraged the organiser to sustain it, encourage more schools to participate, stating that a winner and loser must emerge. “While losers should not be frustrated, winners must see it as no winner no vanguished competition”.
Hon Pally Eghove, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Social Works, Omu Anioma, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu, Mr Ume Ume Ugbu, Head, Human Resources/Admin, Asaba Airport Company, urged parents to interact with their children by investing in their futue as it was the duty of both parents and their formal school teachers to teach them.
Royal Miral College and Epic Nursery/Primary School, Asaba, Delta State emerged winner of of the competition. They defeated other over 20 competitors from public and private primary and secondary schools who participated in the competition where participants were tested in knowledge of spelling in all subjects and various fields.
In the final round of the competition, Royal Miral College beat Young Achievers Model School and Victory Baptists School to second and third places. It went home with N100,000 for first prize, courtesy of Nelson Mandela Garden, while the two runners-up went home with N50,000, courtesy of FADE Africa and N25,000, courtesy of Senator Stella Omu respectively for their efforts.
In the the primary school category, Epic Nursery/Primary School beat Prowess Nursery/Primary school to second place. While the former won N100,000 courtesy of Mandela Gardens, the later won N50,000 courtesy of Fight Against Desert Encroachment, (FADE) Africa.
Earlier, Dr Newton Jibunor, Chairman, Mandela Gardens & Lodges, said the competition was aimed at making it attractive to the children, commending the schools for keying into the project while assuring that it would be a yearly competition especially to observe every children day.
The Spelling Bee was organised by Mandela Garden and Lodges in collaboration with Rotary Club, Asaba Airport Company, ShopRite, Didi Museum, FADE Africa, Dubic Malt and others.
