In Anambra, groups organise competitions for rural pupils

A NON-governmental organisation, known as the Nigerian Information Professional Innovative Ambassadors Network (NIPIAN), in collaboration with Developmental Initiative for Technology and Empowerment (DEVITEM) and Anambra State Library Board has held a Spelling Bee and Reading Competitions for primary school pupils in the community of Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.

  Known as a NIPIAN Project, the event, which drew participation of both pupils and teachers in the community, also saw the winners of the competitions smile home with mouth-watering prizes.

  Speaking on the essence of the event, the NIPIAN Ambassador and organiser of the event, Ngozi Perpetual Osuchukwu who disclosed that the project was being sponsored by Goethe-Institute Nigeria and U.S. Embassy, in partnership with the University of Abuja, further explained that the competition was aimed at encouraging reading and use of community library among the community children, which was in tandem with their mandate to choose and execute individual project in any community that will enrich the community and add value to people.

 On her own part, the Director, Anambra State Library Board, Nkechi Udeze, described the event as commendable and one that needs to be encouraged, sustained and emulated, owing to its enormous benefits to the children, the library, the community and society at large.

 Dr. Udeze, while encouraging the students to regularly visit the library and read as many books as possible in this summer holiday, also advised them to always learn new words, by noting them down and checking their meanings, correct pronunciation and other details of such words whenever they come across them.

 Earlier in an interview, the moderator and judge of the competition, Mrs. Amaka Rose Alor, who is also a Librarian, rated the performances of the pupils above average, and observed that the oft mispronunciation of ‘r’ for ‘l’ and vise-versa in a word or sentence constitutes a major problem to some of the pupils, even as she advised teachers and parents to always assist and give their wards enough time to learn.

 Speaking on behalf of the contestants, the overall winner of the competitions and 11-year-old primary-five pupil of New Life Nursery and Primary School, Ihembosi, Master Godwin Chikamso said he was very elated to have emerged overall winner, even as he appreciated the organisers of the event, his parents and teachers for their support, and promised to keep on reading his book.

 The teacher to the overall winner, Mrs. Juliet Ejezie disclosed that the little boy also recently won a scholarship from Ugochukwu Ubah on their school’s graduation day, after he correctly answered 30 questions on a stretch without failing any one.

  The event, held at branch library, Ihembosi, aside Spelling Bee and Reading competitions for pupils of upper primary classes, featured presentation of prizes and consolations prizes to the winners and all the contestants among others.