Zoffon Bukola, a 16-year old student of Awodi-Ora Senior Secondary School, Awodi-Ora in Ajeromi Local Government Area in Lagos State, has emerged winner of the 2017 senior secondary school Lagos State Spelling Bee competition supported by Dufil Prima Foods Plc.
Bukola was adjudged the best in a keenly contested spelling challenge which had 113 finalists across the six educational districts of the state at the Spelling Bee Grand Finale held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium of Lagos State Secretariat.
Deepak Singhal, Group Managing Director, Dufil Prima Foods Plc while congratulating the winner said the success attained by the new Lagos State Spelling Bee champion was enviable and worth celebrating.
Singhal, who was represented by Tope Ashiwaju, Group Public Relations and Events Manager of the company, said Bukola’s ability to win the competition showed that anything is achievable through hard work and diligence.
He expressed the hope that many young people would be motivated and inspired by her story, to excel in their various endeavours particularly those who feel limited by their background or where they live.
According to him, “Bukola’s sterling performance should tell our children and indeed all of us that no matter where you live or come from, with determination, you can make it.”
The Dufil group managing director also commended the Lagos State Government for working so hard to sustain the competition and improving upon it year after year. He said Indomie was proud to be associated with the competition and challenged other students to adequately prepare for next year’s Spelling Bee competition.
Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Lagos State Deputy Governor, represented by the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Education, Lanre Ogunyemi, said Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition was aimed at developing the innate skills of pupils and students.
Adebule said the competition had been able to fulfill the ultimate goal of creating healthy rivalry among students as well as drawing out their intellectual capabilities. She said Lagos State government will continue to put in place machineries that will help boost academic excellence and improve quality of education in Lagos.
Indomie has been the lead sponsor of Lagos State Spelling Bee since its inception in 2001 and plans to provide more support to ensure that many more young people get the opportunity to participate in the spelling competition.
Other winners at the competition were Rosemary Ogidan of Methodist Senior High School, Badagry and Philip Daniel of Yewa Junior High School Agege emerged first and second runners-up respectively.
KELECHI EWUZIE
