Jare Olukotun
Anwar Islam Primary School and Abule Eko Junior Secondary School, Ijede, have emerged winners of the Ijede Local Council Development Area’s (LCDA) preliminary phase of the annual Lagos State Spelling Bee Contest.
Six primary and six junior and senior secondary schools participated in the two categories held at the Ijede LCDA secretariat on Wednesday.
This year’s event is the 21st edition of the competition which is an initiative of the New Era Foundation (NEF), in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Education.
It was designed to prepare pupils for academic excellence, while rewarding outstanding participants with scholarships, and the chance to serve as ‘One Day Governor’, among other incentives.
The Competition, which started in 2001, is categorized into two distinctive levels; the Primary and Secondary level to allow equal peering in the students intellectual Quotient (IQ) and intellectual abilities. The preliminaries of the Competition are held at each of the 57 Local Government Area (LGA) and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the State, to produce winners who then represent the various LGA and LCDA at the Grand Finale of the competition.
While Anglican Primary School, Methodist Primary School, Egbin Kingdom Primary School, Community Primary School, Anwar-Islam Primary School, and Igbe-Ogunro Model Primary School, took part in the primary school category, Luwasa Senior High School, Egbin Kingdom Junior School, Abule-Eko Community Senior School, Abule-Eko Community Junior School, Community Grammar School Gberigbe, and Luwasa Junior High School, Ijede, participated in the secondary category.
The Council Chairman, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba, welcoming pupils and students to the contest, encouraged them to be bold in testing their spelling ability.
She was represented by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Femi Kabir.
“This competition isn’t just about spelling; it is a testament to your passion for language, commitment to knowledge, and courage to stand tall and spell your way to victory. Many of today’s successful professionals in medicine, engineering, and law once stood where you stand.
“As you compete, I urge you to be bold, confident, and strive for excellence. Let the spelling begin!”, she charged.
In the second and third places in the primary school contest were Methodist Primary School and Community Primary School, Ijede, while Egbin Kingdom Junior School and Abule-Eko Community Senior School, also emerged second and third respectively in the secondary school category.
