2015 national spelling bee winner set for American trip

Deafening cheers and applause enveloped the Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association, NECA
hall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos as Ohuabunwa Onyinyechi of Cherry Field College, Jikwoyi, Abuja was declared the winner of the 2015 National Spelling Bee Competition.
She defeated 44 other finalists to clinch the star prize of a Virgin Atlantic return ticket to the 88th Scripps Spelling Bee Competition, USA as well as a N200, 000 cash gift from Beta Malt along with other goodies from Beta malt and Indomie Noodles.
13-year-old Ohuabunwa Onyinyechi dazed at her emergence, confessed “Honestly, I never thought I would win. I am in shock. I thank God, my parents, my school, my teachers and the organisers. I am most grateful. I still can’t believe I won”.
Ebofin Iyioluwa of Ladela Schools, Wuse 2, Abuja and Igboka Anita of Gudmerc High School, Abuja who won the first and second runners-up were equally excited that they could go that far as they got bountiful rewards for their efforts.
2015 National Spelling Bee Competition organised by the Young Educators Foundation franchise owners of Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition, USA is indeed an asset not just to the students in Nigeria but to the teachers of participating schools, as they were privileged to get trained particularly in diction, pronunciation, tenses as well as origin of words.
The Trainers are revered scholars and certified experts in this field with several years of experience from Ghana. The value added to the teachers via the intensive training is an advantage to the Spellers, as their teachers are expected to have taken them through the rudiments which will naturally boost their confidence for the competition.
It was indeed a great challenge getting the 15 finalists from each of the participating States namely Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Lagos and Oyo respectively.
After the preliminaries, the best from the participating schools were presented for the states finals from where the 45 finalists emerged for the grand finale.
Mrs. Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Country Director, YEF said:
“I am impressed by the capacity and conduct of Spellers. More importantly I am glad that the process was transparent and the winner is indeed deserving of the victory she earned. My sincere appreciation goes to the parents, proprietors and teachers for their cooperation.

Nigerian Pilot