By Ayodele Oni
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has gifted Ekiti-born Miss Adeolu Oluwadamilola who emerged winner of Africa Spelling Bee competition, her coach, and her school, St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado Ekiti cash gifts worth N8 million.
The Governor equally pledged to sponsor the Spelling Bee African champion, her mother and coach to the world championship holding in China later in the year.
Speaking while receiving Adeolu, the Africa Spelling Bee Champion, her mother, Mrs Oluwabunmi Adeolu, School Proprietor, Mr Lawrence Oluwafemi and her coach, Mrs Esther Omolayo in his office in Ado Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji said his administration remains committed to prioritizing education as a central pillar of development.
Commending Miss Oluwadamilola for bringing honour to Ekiti State and Nigeria, the Governor described her achievement as a reflection of the State’s long standing tradition of academic excellence.
He added that the feat underscored the value of diligence, discipline and excellence for which Ekiti people are widely known.
According to him, administration has ensured a deliberate balance between what is being taught, how it is being taught and where is being taught, adding that concerted efforts are also being made to align the curriculum with the demands and realities of the 21st century.
The Governor urged students across the state to remain focused on their studies, stressing that hard work, determination and discipline remains the surest path to success, while assuring that government would continue to create an enabling environment for them to thrive.
“Damilola has once again demonstrated what Ekiti people are known for, diligence, hardwork, honour and excellence and I am so proud of her.
“As a government, in the last three and half years, we have done everything humanly possible to reposition the education sector in Ekiti State from the primary, secondary to tertiary education system and we are also looking at informal education.
“Our strategy is to ensure that we strike a balance between what is being taught, how is being taught and where is being taught because for you to have the best in that sector, the content and the curriculum must be alive to serve the need of the state, the country and globally.
“After conquering Africa, what is next is to conquer the world, I learnt that she will be going to China to represent Africa, the State will sponsor her, the mother, her coach and two others from the school. And as a token of appreciation,
the State government will give Damilola two million Naira, her coach, one million and the school, five million Naira”, the Governor asserted
Earlier in his opening remarks, the proprietor of the school, Mr Lawrence Oluwafemi commended the State Government’s education policies, particularly the Governor’s intentional approach to improving the sector.
Describing the Governor’s gesture as a strong affirmation to his commitment to rewarding excellence and hard work in the education sector, Mr Lawrence noted that the recorgnition would further inspire both student and staff of the school to remain dedicated to academic excellence and discipline.
The Spelling Bee Champion, Adeolu Oluwadamilola expressed her profound gratitude to the Governor for the recognition and support extended to her, especially the plan to sponsor her to China to represent Africa at the forthcoming World Spelling Been competition.
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