Past Winners of Lagos State Speling Bee Competition

The former first lady of Lagos State and founder of New Era Foundation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu OON introduced the competition in year 2000 and was sponsored by corporate organizations such as the then Citizens and Hallmark Banks, Eleganza Group of Companies, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank and Lasaco Assurance. 

It was later adopted and sponsorship taken over by the Ministry of Education, Lagos State.

Since inception, Spelling Bee has produced a number of One- Day Governors all of whom are mentioned below:

NAME	SCHOOL	YEAR
Ebuka Anisiobi	Maryland Comprehensive High School	2001
Ovwuwhore Etiti	Lagos State Model College, Badore	2002
Master Emmanuel Aiyenitaju	Birch Freeman High School	2003
Esan Tolulope	Lagos State Model College, Meiran	2004
Oyetade Ajao	Badagry Grammar School	2005
Abundance Ikechukwu	Ire Akari Senior Grammer School, Isolo	2006
Maryam Jumoke Busari	Lagos State Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo, Ikorodu	2007
Daniel Osunbor	Ilupeju Senior High School	2008
Olaide Adesopo	Estate Senior Grammar School, Ilupeju, Mushin	2009
Toyin Adeosun	Meiran Secondary school	2010
Akpakpan Iniodu Jones	Baptist Senior School, Obanikoro	2011
Lilian Ogbuefi	Lagos State Senior Model College, Kankon,  Badagry	2012
Boadley Juwon Folarin	Omole Grammar School, Ikeja	2013
Olabanji Edun	Army Children Senior Secondary School, Onigbongbo	2014

The Honourable Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye made the following remarks about the Spelling Bee Competition:

“I am happy to report that the goals of the competition have been achieved through documented evidences of our students’ performances in various external examinations and the fact that many of the past winners of the competition are now successful men and women in their chosen enviable careers such as Medicine, Engineering and Law.

“It is also important to stress that the overall winner in the Secondary Schools category has the singular honour of acting as the Governor of the State for one day.

“Suffice it to say that this peculiar experience has, over the years, continued to propel our students to greater heights as manifested in the keen competition that has been the hallmark of the competition.”

Mrs. Oladunjoye added, “I am pleased to note that there is a strong awareness about The Spelling Bee Competition among students/pupils at all levels in the state.

“This, in itself, is a reflection of the present administration’s commitment towards academic excellence among our children. 

“It is this awareness that stimulated the state government to ensure the continuity of the laudable competition and this is done to assist students in developing their potentials be it mentally, intellectually and physically.”