A non-governmental group, Egret Media Concept, has urged primary school pupils to be diligent and determined so as to be great in life.

The Chief Moderator of the group, Mrs. Mutiat Olagoke, gave the admonition on Tuesday at the Kiddies Digest Spelling Challenge organised by the group.

The competition was mainly organised for primary school pupils within Osogbo and its environs.

Sixteen schools attended the competition with each school having two representatives but it was Ahmad Ibrahim from Al Fareed Nursery and Primary School that got the overall best position followed by Bankole Haleemah and Raji Sa’id, both from Eeman Foundation Nursery and Primary school.

The competition which was based on spelling words was divided into segments till the last three participants emerged winners.

In a chat with our correspondent, Olagoke explained that Egret Media Concept is a social enterprise that publishes a children magazine named Kiddies Digest. She added that company started publishing in 2009 and also started the spelling challenge in 2013.

“We started the spelling challenge at Ibadan in 2013 and came to Osogbo in 2014. We hope to inspire the next generation of great minds in the country. We actually believe that there is greatness in every child everywhere, you just have to be determined to achieve it.

“This year’s competition will be taking place in six states in the country, this is just the Osogbo, Osun State version and we have 16 schools here. Our aim is to teach these children life and study skills and apart from this, they also learn to be diligent and patient. We encourage them not to give up, build their self esteem and public speaking ability.”

The principal of the school where the competition took place, Ham Zainab Darru Deenil Qoyyim Islamic and Arabic High School in Osogbo, Mr. Sharafadeen Adebayo, expressed gratitude and delight at having such a competition in his school. He commended the organisers for such an educative programme.

He also advised parents to procure reading and writing materials for their wards and implored the pupils to face their studies and be focussed too.

While expressing his happiness too, the overall winner, Ibrahim thanked his parents and teachers for believing and always encouraging him and also advised his colleagues to be hardworking and unrelenting.

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