Spelling Bee reunion holds

A reunion of winners and runners-up of the Spelling Bee was held on 5th December 2009 at La Scala Restaurant in Lagos.

Winners of the competition from its first edition in 2001 to 2009 assembled with first and second runners up for an afternoon of speech and prize-giving.

Welcoming guests to the event, NEF President, Chief Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, used the opportunity to express thanks to all those who had over the years made several contributions to the success of the Spelling Bee competition.

The keynote speech for the day was delivered by former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Yemi Osibajo who spoke on "Lost opportunities".

"Once an opportunity is lost, it is not easy to bring it back. We often regret opportunities we lost."

"Some years ago, I was HOD. A lady wanted to study abroad for her Master’s degree in law. And for two years, she waited. Then, an opportunity came, and she needed just one day to fill and submit the form. She came back to say that she did not have a passport. We tried to arrange for a passport. The passport came, but the application had closed. When opportunity came, she was unprepared for it," he said.

Osinbajo warned them against dishonesty.

He said while he was in the university in England, a bank within the school gave him 600 pounds as loan in 1980 which he paid back when his cheque arrived. The former commissioner regretted that by 1984, it was impossible for Nigerians to open an account with the same bank because many Nigerians had abused the opportunity.

"The dishonesty of a few made many to lose the opportunity. Let people trust you with money," he advised.

Osinbajo also urged the youths to avoid giving excuses for failures.

He said those who reign today were not of reckoning 20 years ago.

"Your vision and commitment would make a difference. Diette-Spiff was governor at 23. Mobolaji-Johnson was governor of Lagos at 27. Being too young is irrelevant. Many people from poor families have done what people from great families could not do", he said.

The former attorney-general went on: "Being a one-day governor is an opportunity. I urge you to always make use of opportunities and strive after excellence, integrity, and honesty", he said.

Guests mingled with the Spelling Bee champions who sat according to their years of winning.

At the event were Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Sarah Adebisi Sosan, the governor’s wife, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, frontline businessmen Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas and Alhaji Rasaq Okoya as well as Head of Service, Alhaji Yakubu Balogun.

Other dignitaries were Chief Oprah Benson, Iya Oge of Lagos, Mrs Abbah Folawiyo, former Lagos State Commissioner for Education Dr Leke Pitan and council chairmen; Ayodele Adewale (Amuwo Odofin), Yetunde Arobieke (Agboyi-Ketu), Afeez Ipesa-Balogun(Osodi-Isolo), Abiodun Mafe (Mosan Okunola), Kunle Soname (Ikosi-Iseri), Adedeji Adebayo (Apapa-Iganmu) and James Faleke (Ojodu).

Speeches were delivered at the event, admonishing the winners to look at the bright future. Speakers included Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Mrs. Sarah Sosan.

Laptop computer gifts were given to the winners.