Nwachukwu Vincent of Morogbo Primary School and Kehinde Kudirat Adeola of Araromi-Ilogbo Senior Grammar School have emerged winners in the primary and secondary school categories of the 2026 Olorunda LCDA Preliminary Spelling Bee Competition.
The competition, organised by the Education and Library Services Department of Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), was held on Tuesday, October 13, at the council secretariat’s Multipurpose Hall, Iworo, Badagry, Lagos State.
In the primary school category, Nwachukwu clinched the top position, followed by Omoyayi Jesse of UBEC Model School, who finished second. Vincent Sedonde of Anglican Primary School, Itoga-Zannu, secured third place.
Kehinde topped the secondary school category, while Wusu Benjamin Nunayon of State Senior High School, Ibereko, emerged first runner-up. Adio Sufiat Tomipe of Ipaara Community Junior Secondary School finished third.
The competition brought together pupils and students from primary and secondary schools across the LCDA to test their spelling abilities and compete for recognition in an exercise designed to promote literacy and academic excellence.
Representing the Executive Chairman of Olorunda LCDA, Hon. Peter Ajose, at the event, the Vice Chairman, Hon. Solomon Adele, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to education, describing investment in young people as a lasting contribution to the community’s future.
Ajose said the competition aligned with his administration’s RESHAPE agenda, which places education at the centre of its grassroots development priorities.
He highlighted the council’s 2026 Back-to-School Programme, through which school bags, notebooks and other essential writing materials were distributed to more than 4,000 pupils across 24 primary schools in the LCDA.
The chairman also disclosed that the administration had initiated support for higher education through the Olorunda LCDA Bursary Award Committee, aimed at helping young people pursue their academic ambitions despite financial constraints.
According to him, the spelling bee goes beyond memorising letters, as it promotes literacy, public speaking, critical thinking and cognitive development.
Addressing the contestants, Ajose encouraged them to approach the competition with confidence, noting that the local contest could serve as a pathway to the Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition.
“This local government stage is your gateway to the prestigious Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition,” he said, expressing confidence that a future winner of the state competition’s One-Day Governor title could emerge from among the participants.
He urged the contestants not to be discouraged by the outcome, saying, “Win or lose today, you are already champions for stepping up to represent your schools.”
The chairman also called on the competition’s organisers and judges to uphold fairness and transparency, while acknowledging the contributions of teachers and parents to the academic development of the participating pupils and students.
Earlier, the Supervisor for Education in Olorunda LCDA, Afeez Bankole, in the welcome address, traced the competition’s origins to the New Era Foundation, established by Senator Oluremi Tinubu during her tenure as First Lady of Lagos State.
The supervisor praised the foundation’s role in creating opportunities for public school students to demonstrate their academic abilities, while commending the council chairman for supporting educational programmes and school infrastructure.
The 2026 preliminary competition forms part of Olorunda LCDA’s efforts to strengthen learning, encourage healthy intellectual competition and provide pupils and students with opportunities to develop their academic potential.