At 16, Idowu Sonoiki Wins One-Day Governor of Lagos

April 29, 2015 – Sixteen-year old Master Idowu Sonoiki of Ikotun Senior High School, Ikotun in the Igando-Ikotun local council development area of Lagos State has emerged as the One Day Governor of the State 2015, having won the 2015 Spelling Bee Competition.

The Ogun State indigene SS1 student beat 15-year-old Master Faaizi Abdullaidi of Omole Senior High School, Ojodu and 14-year-old Master Fehinti Dahunsi of Lagos State Senior Model College, Kankon to the second and third positions respectively.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye noted that students have taken full advantage of the opportunity provided by the competition to excell in their studies as evidenced in the marked improvement in academic performance.

“It is heartwarming to note that the goals of the competition have been achieved as evidenced in the performances of our students at various external exanimations. I am gladdened by the fact that many of the past winners of the competition are now successful men and women in their chosen and enviable careers such as medicine, engineering and law among others.”

Oladunjoye expressed her pleasure at the strong awareness the Spelling Bee Competition has generated among students and pupils at all levels in the state adding that past winners have continued to sustain the tradition of excellence that the competition is associated with.

“The overall goals of the competition are to help students improve their spelling skills; increase their vocabulary and develop correct English usage; create good reading habits that will lead to better academic performance; and boost the confidence of participants with a view to preparing them for future endeavours”.

In her address of welcome, the Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo noted that the Spelling Bee competition is important because it raises the profile of reading and cements the connection that is shared between sounds and letters.

“Learning spelling words is not important to a child’s future but helps to lay the basic foundation that every student will need throughout their educational life”.