Sixteen-year-old Bukola Zoffun from Awodiora Senior Secondary School in Ajeromi Local Government Area in Lagos, recently made history to become the 17th winner of the Lagos State 2017 Spelling Bee competition.
Zoffun came tops out of the 113 finalists across the six educational districts of the state.
Another pupil, Rosemary Ogidan, of Methodist Senior High School, Badagry, and Philip Daniel of Yewa Junior High School, Agege, emerged first and second runners-up, respectively.
Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director, Dufil Prima Foods Plc., makers of indomie Noodles, Mr. Deepak Singhal, who was represented by the Group Public Relations and Events Manager of the company, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, said that the success attained by the new Lagos State Spelling Bee champion, Zoffun, was enviable and worth celebrating.
He said her ability to win the competition showed that anything could be achieved through hard work and diligence, expressing the hope that many young people would be motivated and inspired by her story to excel in their various endeavours, particularly those who felt limited by their background or where they lived.
“Bukola’s sterling performance should tell our children and, indeed, all of us that no matter where you live or come from, with determination, you can make it,” Singhal said.
The DUFIL Group boss also commended the Lagos State Government for working so hard to sustain the competition and improving upon it year after year.
He said Indomie was proud to be associated with the competition and challenged other students to adequately prepare for next year’s Spelling Bee competition.
In her keynote address, the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, who was represented by the Committee Chairman on Education, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Lanre Ogunyemi, said Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition was aimed at developing the innate skills of pupils and students.
Adebule said the competition had been able to fulfil the ultimate goal of creating healthy rivalry among students as well as drawing out their intellectual capabilities.
She assured that the Lagos State Government would continue to put in place machineries that would help boost academic excellence and improve quality of education.
Indomie has been the lead sponsor of the Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition since its inception in 2001 and plans to provide more support to ensure that many more young people get the opportunity to participate in the event.
