Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has awarded a full scholarship to 14-year-old Damilola Adeolu, a Senior Secondary School One student who won two gold medals at the recently concluded World Spelling Bee Championship in Shanghai, China.
The scholarship will cover Damilola’s education from senior secondary school through university, while the governor also approved monthly allowances for her upkeep, books, learning materials, a computer and other academic needs.
Damilola, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado Ekiti, represented Africa at the global competition after winning the National and African Spelling Bee Championships earlier this year.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Oyebanji announced the rewards on Monday while receiving Damilola, her parents, Rev. and Mrs Adeolu, her coach and the proprietor of her school, Lawrence Oluwafemi, at the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti.
The governor praised the teenager’s achievement at the national, continental and international levels, describing it as a source of pride for Ekiti State, Nigeria and Africa.
He said Damilola’s success would motivate other young people to pursue excellence and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to identifying and supporting talented students in the state.
“You have made us extremely proud. You have conquered the world, but you still need to conquer the future. The future is ahead of you,” Oyebanji told the student.
The governor said he had directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure the state government takes responsibility for Damilola’s educational expenses throughout secondary school, adding that arrangements would be made to support her university education when the time comes.
The scholarship package, he said, would include tuition fees, monthly welfare support, books, a computer and other educational requirements.
Oyebanji also promised to help facilitate Damilola’s meeting with the Minister of Education and the Office of the First Lady, noting that her accomplishment deserved wider national recognition.
As part of the recognition, the governor announced cash awards of N2m for Damilola, N2m for her school and N1m for her coach.
The proprietor of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Lawrence Oluwafemi, thanked the governor for supporting the school’s delegation to Shanghai, saying the achievement would not have been possible without the state government’s assistance.
Oluwafemi said Damilola was among several outstanding students in the school and expressed confidence that she and other students would continue to represent Ekiti, Nigeria and Africa successfully at international competitions.
Speaking with journalists, Damilola described the experience as “amazing and wonderful,” saying she was proud to emerge as one of the gold medal winners.
She thanked the governor for the support and pledged to continue making Ekiti and Nigeria proud. She also encouraged other young people to believe in themselves, remain focused and work hard towards achieving their goals.
The event was attended by top government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; Chief of Staff, Niyi Adebayo; Commissioner for Education, Dr Bimpe Aderiye; Special Adviser on Tertiary Education, Prof. Akeem Azeez; and Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode.
