Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has gifted Ekiti-born Miss Adeolu Oluwadamilola who recently 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, together with 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 on Monday, 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.
Speaking further, the Governor explained that since the inception of his administration, deliberate efforts have been made to reposition the education sector through strategic investment in infrastructure, capacity building for teachers, provision of learning materials and policies aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning across the state.
He added that his 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
While congratulating the African spelling bee champion for the feat, the Governor said his government would continue to support and reward excellence in all sectors, particularly in education sector in order to encourage students and teachers to strive for greater achievements and uphold the state’s reputation as a centre of academic distinction
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 that 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 leant 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 who commended the State Government’s education policies particularly the Governor’s intentional approach to improving the sector, said that such commitment had contributed significantly to the recent successes recorded by students across the state
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, Miss Adeolu Oluwadamiloa expressed her profound gratitude to the Governor for the recorgnition and support extended to her, especially the plan to sponsor her to China to represent Africa at the forthcoming World Spelling Been competition. She described the gesture as a motivation to aim higher.