Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has awarded a full scholarship to 14-year-old Damilola Adeolu, who won two gold medals at the World Spelling Bee Championship in Shanghai, China.
The Governor also announced N5 million in cash rewards for Damilola, her school, St Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti, and her coach.
Damilola, an SS1 student, represented Africa at the world championship after winning the National and African Spelling Bee Championships earlier in the year.
Oyebanji announced the scholarship and rewards on Monday when he received Damilola, her parents, Rev. and Mrs Adeolu, her coach and the school proprietor, Elder Lawrence Oluwafemi, at the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti.
The Governor praised Damilola for her outstanding performance at the national, African and global competitions.
He described her achievement as a proud moment for Ekiti, Nigeria and Africa.
“You have made us extremely proud. You have conquered the world, but you need to conquer the future. The future is ahead of you,” Oyebanji said.
The Governor said the state government would cover Damilola’s educational expenses from SS2 through secondary school and university.
He said the scholarship would also cover monthly welfare support and learning materials, including books and computers.
“I have just discussed with the Commissioner for Education. From now till she finishes secondary school, government will pay. When she gets to university, we will sit down and work that out with you,” he said.
Oyebanji also approved monthly allowances for Damilola’s upkeep and learning needs.
He said the government’s interest in the young champion went beyond celebrating her achievement, stressing the need to invest in her future.
The Governor further promised to facilitate Damilola’s meeting with the Minister of Education and the Office of the First Lady.
He said her achievement deserved recognition beyond Ekiti State.
As part of the celebration, Oyebanji awarded N2 million to Damilola, N2 million to her school and N1 million to her coach.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting young Ekiti residents to develop their talents and compete globally.
The Governor said Damilola’s achievement should inspire other students to pursue excellence.
Speaking with journalists, the proprietor of St Lawrence Metropolitan College, Lawrence Oluwafemi, said Damilola first emerged as Nigeria’s champion before winning the African championship.
He thanked Oyebanji for sponsoring their trip to Shanghai, saying the support made it possible for Damilola to represent Africa at the world championship.
Oluwafemi said Damilola was not the school’s only talented student.
“We have a lot of them,” he said, adding that Damilola and other students would return to Beijing next year to represent Ekiti, Nigeria and Africa.
“And we are coming back as champions,” he said.
Damilola described her experience at the championship as “amazing” and “wonderful.”
She thanked Governor Oyebanji for his support and promised to continue making Ekiti proud.
The young champion also encouraged other young people to believe in themselves and remain committed to their dreams.
She said their efforts would eventually bring success and make their families, state and country proud.
