OLUOMACHUKWU OKORO WINS DABOTA/FRCN ENUGU SPELLING BEE COMPETITION
Reporter CHRISTIAN NWANGENE
Little Miss Oluomachukwu Esther Okoro, of Igbariam Primary School three, Achara Layout, Enugu, has emerged champion in the Grand finale of the maiden edition of Dabota/FRCN Enugu Spelling Bee competition for public primary schools in Enugu State.
Miss. Okoro, who defeated other pupils in the keenly contested exercise, went home with one hundred thousand naira and a trophy.
The Spelling Bee Competition was organized to improve the capacity of school children to spell words, especially in the present era where many students and pupils hardly concentrate on their studies but often rely on phones for their academics.
Pupils from primary schools from the three senatorial zones of Enugu State enlisted in the competition organized by Dabota Book Club/FRCN, Enugu Zonal Station.
After a strenuous selection process, twenty pupils were eventual chosen in the finals of the competition where Miss Oluomachukwu Esther Okoro came tops.
The first runner up, Miss Mary Sopuluchukwu Okwor, from Ugbo-odogwu Primary School, got fifty thousand naira, while the second runner up, Miss Onyedika Nwusulor, from WTC Primary School Three, got thirty thousand naira.
In her speech, the Director, Dabota Book Club, Dr. Ada Nwoye, explained that the initiative was dedicated towards improving the reading culture among children in Enugu, and raise young writers.
Dr. Nwoye noted that there was no commitment to improve the reading culture among young Nigerians, stressing that the programme was put together to encourage pupils to engage their brains.
Representatives of the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Margret Ayaogu, and that of the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, ENSUBEB, Mrs. Ngozi Julie Ugwu, in their separate messages, commended the initiators of the programme, emphazing that the performance of the children in the competition had proven that public schools had talented students and qualified teachers.
They pleaded with the organizers to take the campaign to the grassroots to motivate those in the rural areas to benefit.
In a remark, the Zonal Director, Radio Nigeria, Enugu Zonal Station, Mr. Ike Okere, emphasized that the station would continue to support initiatives targeted at building human resources and transforming the society for the better.
Mr. Okere said Radio Nigeria would continue to give its platform to programmes that motivate citizens to be responsible countrymen and women.
The Zonal Director, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Mrs. Maureen Atuonwu, said she was captivated by the performance of the children, particularly the confidence and courage in answering questions.
Mrs. Atuonwu, commended Dabota Book Club/FRCN for putting up the programme, saying that it was a good platform to identify talents.
One of the sponsors of the programme, and owner of Impact Pharmaceutical Limited, Mr. Jasper Onyeka, expressed satisfaction with skills and intelligence exhibited by the contestants, pledging his continued support to the development of education.
Radio Nigeria Enugu Zonal Station gave fifteen thousand naira to the third runner up, and ten thousand naira to the fourth runner up.