2019 Community Inter-Schools Spelling Bee
Saturday, 16th of March, 2019 was indeed a great day for school pupils in Matogbun and environs as they showcase their spelling skills at the 2nd edition of Community Gist Spelling Competition tagged “Community Inter-Schools Spelling Bee.”
The Spelling Bee which was sponsored by Garu Technologies Nigeria Ltd had the following schools in attendance; God’s Grace International School, Bash Private School, Adeyemi Private School, Za’amah Integrated School, Aksund International School, Day Star Private School, Midland International School, God’s Time Academy as well as Divine Favour School.
The Founder/Publisher of Community Gist, who is also the Convener of the event, Comrade Azeez Ramon, in his welcome address said the programme is designed to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, which is quality education.
“We gather here today to bring future leaders within and outside our community together to showcase their spelling skills and to inculcate the habit of learning in them. Apart from that, this programme is designed to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4, which is quality education.
“There is no way we can achieve SDGs 4 in a system or country where students rely solely on examination malpractice to excel in WAEC and JAMB, even in tertiary institutions, which is openly encourage by teachers/lecturers and parents. Consequently, as a way of curbing this menace, we came up with this brilliant programme in order to solve the problem of examination malpractice in our society and to inculcate the habit of learning in our young ones so that they can excel in their academics without involving in examination malpractice.”
Azeez also appreciate those that contributed one way or the other to the success of the event, he said “I will like to express my profound gratitude to those who made the dream of hosting this event come to reality. My sincere appreciation goes to the management and staff of Garu Technologies Nigeria Ltd, the sponsor of this momentous event, particularly the CEO of the company, in person of Alhaji Lukman Garu, Engineer Kehinde Garu, Alhaji Raheem Bashir (Proprietor, Bash Private School), Mr Ibrahim Opeyemi, Mr Ismail Oniyangi, Shiek Yusuf Alimi, Mallam Nurudeen Atiba, Coach Lanre, Mr Akinlabi Hassan (Director of Communication, JCI, Lagos), Mr Soji Olowu, Mr AbdulAziz Ibrahim, and others I couldn’t mention.
“My sincere appreciation also goes to our partners; National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN, Agbado Oke Aro LCDA Chapter) under the leadership of Comrade Farouk Shitta, National Community Development Youth Service Initiative (NACOYSI) under the leadership of Mrs Maria Ojo Taiwo, K. O. A Educational Foundation, Tag Unique Catering Service, Don Baba Gist, Atunluse Radio as well as Gatmash Blog.
“I also appreciate Matogbun Area CDC for given us the opportunity to use the Community Hall without collecting a dime. Once again, I thank you all and I pray that Almighty God will continue to bless you,” he added.
The Guest Lecturer at the event, Mr Soji Olowu in his lecture titled “Seeing yourself in big picture” said everyone have 3650 days to achieve their big dream. He said to accomplish any goal, you need the acronyms call THING BIG, which he explained as follows:
T = Take, H = Habit, I = In N = Nurturing, K = Knowledgeable, B = Basic, I = Intellectual, G = Goals. He then admonished the pupils to always be good students at all time, they should not be shy to ask questions, practice what they have taught in the classroom, keep doing the right thing and believe in themselves.
The CEO of Garu Technologies Nigeria Ltd, Alhaji Lukman Garu while addressing the audience, he admonished the pupils to take their study serious adding that they are the leaders of today not tomorrow. He said he was highly impress with the performance of the pupils and he donated the sum of five thousand naira (#5,000) to the winner of the Lower Basic Category of the competition and eight thousand naira (#8,000) to the winner of the Upper Basic Category.
At the end of the competition, Groomers Private School took 1st position with 59.5 points, Aksund International School came 2nd with 55.5 points, while Midland International School came 3rd with 55 points in the Lower Basic Category. In Upper Basic Category (JSS), Aksund International School emerged winner with 69.5 points, Bash Private School came second with 65 points, while God’s Grace International School came third with 64 points.
Several dignitaries, community leaders and educators graced the occasion, which include; Deacon O. M. Olapade, Matogbun Area CDC chairman; Alhaji Ademola Adeagbo, Chairman, Maidan United Group of CDAs; Sheik Toheeb Adekilekun; Mrs Theresa Moses, Editor, Gastmash Blog; Imam AbdulHakim, Chief Imam Nusrat Central Mosque, Comrade Taiwo Olusegun as well as Comrade Bolaji, Treasure, NYCN, Agbado Oke Aro LCDA chapter.
