The Seeds National Spelling Bee Initiative, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) has called on the Federal Government to increase support for education to increase chances of better career opportunities for Nigerians.
The coordinator of the NGO, Dr Abiola Adimula, made the call at the maiden edition of the FCT Schools Spelling Bee Competition in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adimula also called on well-meaning organisations and corporate bodies to support the government in the cause of providing quality education for the citizenry.
She said that the spelling bee competition was apt as it would foster the spirit of competition which would improve individual performance as higher stakes.
She also said that such competitions were meant to encourage unity and harmony among students of various secondary schools, thus providing a solid platform for education networking and information sharing.
“The Seeds National Spelling Bee Competition is structured after the Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition in the USA (the mother of all Spelling Bees) with the main goal of improving written and spoken English of students.
” The competition aims to help students improve their spelling and as well go a long way to help students attain higher scores in essays and other test of English usage.
” It will help increase their vocabularies giving them a rich and deep fount of knowledge to draw from anytime they utter a word,” she said.
Adimula said that the winner of the competition would be awarded N200,000, N150,000 for the second position while the third position would take N100,000.
She added that the Fourth to 10th positions would take N20,000 each as consolation prizes
” It is important to mention that the cash award goes to the contestants directly to assist in their education and this explains why only public schools were selected.
” We know that the families of the contestants will need the fund to support the education of their children.
” Therefore, the sponsors specifically donated award of excellence to the beneficiaries. Lawal Rabana Award of Excellence to the First Position is N200,000.
” Prince Aderemi Adimula Award of Excellence to the Second position is N150,000 and Oba Ismail Alebiosu, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo Award of Excellence to the Third position is N100,000,” she added.
She, therefore, said that in its previous edition of the competition, spelling scholars had enjoyed international trips to West African countries which gave them exposures needed to pursue their career.
Also, Director Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Folake Olatunji-David, said that the goal of the competition was to provide literacy among Nigeria students while producing the best and project them as team Nigeria of international status.
Olatunji-David, represented by the Deputy Director, Junior Secondary Education, Mrs Edith Osanyinpeju, commended the organizer for the zeal in putting up the competition saying it would expose and equip students with knowledge and skills in spelling.
” The competition will enhance students’ academic performance that will make them stand out among their equals in addition to building their communication, public speaking skill and self-esteem.
“It will also aid learners in learning concepts; improve their comprehension of concept and vocabulary, and help them develop good study skill,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition which is in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education with support from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has students drawn from 15 schools within the territory to compete.
The schools are Junior Secondary School (JSS) Alugulungu JSS Gwagwalada JSS Idu-Koro, JSS Kubwa 2, JSS Hajj Camp, JSS Jabi 1, JSS Kubwa 3 Model, JSS Life Camp and JSS Jiwa.
Others are JSS Kubwa 1, JSS Dutse Alhaji, JSS Kayarda , JSS Jikwoyi, JSS Karu and JSS Area 10.
However, Judith Obilor of JSS kubwa 1 clinched the first position and was presented a cash award of N200,000, Gboluwaga Oluwasina of JSS Area 10 came second with N150,000 cash award while Idris Mueez came third and received a cash award of N100,000.(NAN)