Six pupils and students on Wednesday emerged winners in the 2026 Spelling Bee Competition organised by Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Newsmen reports that the winners, comprising three primary and three secondary school pupils and students, will represent the council at the state level competition.
In the primary school category, Master Olawole Emmanuel of Gbaja Nursery and Primary School emerged first, while Miss Fatima Adebanjo of Anglican Girls’ Nursery and Primary School came second.
Master Hassan Olowokere of Adeniji Nursery and Primary School placed third.
In the secondary school category, Miss Faridah Olamide of Gbaja Girls High School emerged first, followed by Miss Judith Ezeh of New Era Girls Senior School in second place.
Master Paul Lucky of Ansar-udeen High School came third.
The council chairman, Mr Bamidele Yusuf, announced the winners at the end of the competition held at the council secretariat in Surulere.
He also presented awards and educational materials to the winners.
Yusuf, represented by his deputy, Mr Adewale Dosunmu, said the prizes were in recognition of the participants’ outstanding performances.
He said the competition was designed to improve spelling and vocabulary skills and enhance proficiency in the use of English among primary and secondary school pupils and students.
According to him, 28 public primary schools and 37 secondary schools in the local government participated in the competition.
“The competition is designed to improve spelling and vocabulary and build students’ proficiency in the use of English,” he said.
Yusuf said the competition was introduced by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu in 2006 when she was the wife of the then Lagos State governor, Mr Bola Tinubu.
He said the competition had been held annually, with its impact reflected in pupils’ and students’ performance in external examinations.
Yusuf said the winners would join representatives from other local government areas to compete at the state level.
Earlier, the Head of the council’s Education Department, Mr Oluwafemi Bada, commended the participants for their performances.
Bada said they had demonstrated commitment by qualifying from their respective schools to compete at the local government level.
He described the Spelling Bee as a healthy competition and urged those who did not win to work harder.
He encouraged them not to lose hope, saying there would be opportunities to improve their performances in subsequent competitions.
Yusuf said his administration was committed to making education meaningful and attractive to pupils and students in the area.
He said the council regularly visited schools to ensure the provision of basic facilities, including boreholes, electricity, chairs and tables.
According to him, a conducive learning environment would enhance pupils’ and students’ ability to assimilate what they were taught.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Olamide commended the local government for organising the competition.
She promised to work harder to represent her school and the council well at the state-level competition.
Newsmen reports that the overall winner at the state level will serve as the one-day governor of Lagos State.
