Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has awarded a full scholarship to 14-year-old Damilola Adeolu, the SS1 student who won two gold medals at the World Spelling Bee Championship held recently in Shanghai, China.
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Damilola, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado Ekiti, represented Africa at the global competition after earlier emerging winner of the National and African Spelling Bee Championships.
Governor Oyebanji announced the scholarship on Monday when he received Damilola, her parents, Rev. and Mrs. Adeolu, her coach and the proprietor of her school, Elder Lawrence Oluwafemi, at the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti.
The governor praised the teenager for her outstanding performances at the national, African and world spelling bee competitions, describing her achievement as a proud moment for Ekiti State, Nigeria and Africa.
According to him, Damilola’s success would inspire other students to believe in their abilities and strive to compete with the best anywhere in the world.
“You have made us extremely proud. You have conquered the world, but you need to conquer the future. The future is ahead of you,” Oyebanji said.
Aside from the scholarship, the governor also approved monthly allowances for Damilola’s upkeep and learning support, including the provision of books, computers and other educational materials.
Oyebanji said the state government would underwrite Damilola’s educational expenses from SS2 through secondary school and also support her university education.
“I have just discussed with the Commissioner for Education. From now till she finishes secondary school, government will pay. When she gets to university, we will sit down and work that out with you,” the governor said.
He also promised to facilitate Damilola’s meeting with the Minister of Education and the Office of the Wife of the President, saying her achievement deserved to be celebrated beyond the state level.
To further celebrate the feat, the governor announced cash rewards of ₦2 million for Damilola, ₦2 million for her school and ₦1 million for her coach.
Oyebanji reiterated the commitment of his administration to supporting Ekiti youths to compete favourably with their peers globally and to providing platforms for them to showcase their God-given talents.
Speaking with journalists after the event, the proprietor of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Elder Lawrence Oluwafemi, said Damilola first conquered Nigeria before representing the country at the African championship, where she also emerged first.
He thanked Governor Oyebanji for sponsoring the school’s trip to Shanghai, China, to represent Africa, noting that the journey would not have been possible without the governor’s support.
Oluwafemi said Damilola was not the only outstanding student in the school, adding that she and other students would be returning to Beijing next year to represent Ekiti, Nigeria and Africa.
“We have a lot of them. She and other students will also be going back to Beijing next year to represent Ekiti, Nigeria and Africa. And we are coming back as champions,” he said.
Damilola, who described her experience at the championship as amazing and wonderful, said she felt happy and proud to have emerged as one of the gold medalists.
She thanked Governor Oyebanji for supporting her and promised to continue making Ekiti State proud.
She also encouraged other young people to keep believing in themselves, saying they too could one day win and make the state and the country proud.
Also present at the event were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi; Chief of Staff, Mr. Niyi Adebayo; Commissioner for Education, Dr. Bimpe Aderiye; Special Adviser on Tertiary Education, Prof. Akeem Azeez; and Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Yinka Oyebode.
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