ADEOLA OGUNLADE
The Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Comrade Akeem Olalekan Dauda (AKOD), has promised a laptop, cash gift and free holiday training in data analysis to Kadri Israel, a pupil of Agindigbi Primary School, who emerged winner of the primary school category at the council’s Spelling Bee Competition.
The competition, held today at the Marriage Registry Hall of the council, brought together pupils from eight schools, with two contestants selected from each school to demonstrate their spelling skills.
The programme was organised under the Knowledge-Based Economic Empowerment pillar of the I.K.E.J.A Agenda, which prioritises education, skills development and opportunities for young people.
Announcing the reward for Israel, Dauda said the gesture was aimed at encouraging academic excellence and equipping the young winner with relevant digital skills for the future.
“Our future is bright, and we need to encourage this boy. That is why I said I am going to give him a laptop personally and enrol him in an IT programme, especially data analysis, to secure his future,” he said.
In the primary school category, Israel came first, while Sikiru Aishat of Shogunle Primary School emerged second and Ihie Jessica of State Primary School, Onipese, came third.
The top three primary school winners will also have the opportunity to experience local government administration, with the first-position winner serving as Council Chairman for a day, the second as Vice Council Chairman and the third as Leader of the Legislative House.
In the secondary school category, Amaukwu Favour, Assistant Head Girl of State Junior High School, Onilekere, emerged first, followed by Abdulrasherd Radia in second place and Eze Chinedu in third position. The secondary school contestants were all drawn from the council’s only secondary school.
Dauda said the winners would represent the council at the state-level competition, urging teachers to intensify preparations to ensure they perform creditably.
He also encouraged pupils to embrace discipline, hard work and consistent study as pathways to academic success.
In his response, Israel thanked the Council Chairman for the promised support, saying hard work and consistent study had been the game changers in his preparation for the competition.
