Parents have been charged to encourage their children and wards to participate in educational opportunities to advance their academic pursuits.
The Managing Director of Hensek Integrated Services Limited, Mr. Uwem Okoko, gave the charge at the grand finale of the Atlantic FM – Hensek Spelling Bee Competition held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Mr Okoko, who was represented by the Leader of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otobong Bob, noted that when children participate in platforms like the spelling bee, it builds their confidence, improves their academic performance, and prepares them to become future leaders while giving them opportunities to get scholarships and other educational supports.
The Spelling Bee Competition sponsored by Hensek Integrated Services in partnership with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s Atlantic FM, Uyo, featured pupils and students competing across five categories: Nursery, Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary.
The 120 contestants had earlier been selected through a live radio spelling competition aired on Radio Nigeria Atlantic FM, Uyo.
In the Nursery Category, Dominion Mathias Etim emerged first winner. Second was Emmanuel Hilary Agidans, third position went to Moses Godwin David, and Emmanuel Ubong Emmanuel took fourth position.
In the Lower Primary, first position was Divine Mathias Etim, second Torosbasi Emmanuel Etim, third Sufficient Uwem John, and fourth position Godwin Enefiok Bassey.
Upper Primary: Mfoniso Utibe Okon took first position, second Inimfon Godwin Umondak, third Abasifreke Ime Moses, and fourth Edidiong Idoreyin Essien.
Junior Secondary: First position, Blessed Mathias Etim. Second, Goodness Akpabio Ede. Third, Mmetorosbasi Emmanuel Paulinus .Fourth, Favor Emmanuel Gabriel.
In the Senior Secondary Category, Edidiong Dominic Udofia took the first position. Uduakobong Enefiok Umo took second. Third position went to Unyimeabasi Enefiok Antia, and the fourth position had Saviour Victor Benn.
All the winners went home with amazing prizes.
First position in every category received N200,000 cash prize, plus a scholarship to any secondary school of their parents’ choice.
Second placed winners got N150,000 cash prizes each, third placed winners got N50,000 and fourth place winners took home N30,000 cash prize.
Some of the participants who emerged winners in the competition, expressed joy for the prizes won and thanked the organizers of the event for the opportunity while those who did not win in this year’s edition of the Spelling Bee vowed to come back stronger in subsequent editions of the competition.
Earlier in a welcome address, the General Manager of Radio Nigeria Atlantic 104.5 FM, Uyo, Comrade Ubong Obot, expressed appreciation to the CEO of Hensek Integrated Services Limited, Mr. Uwem Okoko, for sponsoring the Spelling Bee for the past years.
The General Manager noted that the annual competition has continued to promote learning and academic excellence among students in the state while providing a platform for many academically sound students to win scholarships to advance their educational pursuits.
Comrade Obot also appealed to Hensek Integrated Services to support the Station in completing the Atlantic FM Event Centre, which she said would significantly reduce the yearly cost of hosting the competition.
She also solicited the assistance of the State Governor, Pastor Umoh Eno, in the installation of a solar system in the station to ensure uninterrupted power supply for continuous broadcasting.
Comrade Obot assured that Atlantic FM would continue to promote the positive values of Akwa Ibom State and support programmes that advance the ARISE Agenda of the state government.
The event was attended by some members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, including the Deputy Leader, Mr. Nsidibe Akata, as well as the SSA to the Governor on Local Media, and former Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Amos Etuk, among others.
