The organisers of Spelling Bee Bayelsa have called on Bayelsa State Government and other stakeholders to support to the programme, as winners emerged from the 11thedition of the competition at the weekend.

The competition held on Saturday at Davem Mini Hub and Children Music School, Yenagoa, had the spellers winning cash prizes of up to N100,000, 50,000, and 30,000 for first, second and third positions respectively, and many other gift items.

The two-day event saw Tamaramiebi Festus of Ayakpo Comprehensive College emerging as the winner while Oweibo Emmanuel of New Total Child came second.

Azi Amarachi from Ayakpo Comprehensive College came third, Morris Azibagiri also from New Total Child, took the fourth position, and Michelle Okomokou of Deeper Life School came fifth.

Speaking on the success of the event, the Convener, Dr Ebidenyefa Tarila-Nikade, urged the government private organisation, good spirited individuals to join them to push the contest farther than where it is today.

?We look forward to the period when the students will be leaving here with millions ? N1 million, N1.5 million, N2 million, N10 million; if they join force with us it is going to be bigger.

?It will inspire more children to engage in this positive venture and it will reduce the interest in vices, because they are being handsomely rewarded for academic excellence on various platforms,? she said.

Dr Tarila-Nikade said that sharpening spelling skills and checking spelling errors amongst children were the motivation for the spelling competition.

She expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the front line sponsors, Sundry Foods, Market Square, First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited, Lagos, and other local brands that gave their support in making the Spelling Bee a success.

?It has been a fantastic experience, quite intriguing, quite a lot of anxiety attacks from the children, it was fun filled, entertaining and educative as well.

?This is a programme that is supposed to be supported by the relevant agencies and the government but we have not been fortunate to access that level of commitment from those agencies.

?But the Spelling Bee Bayelsa has been endorsed by the Ministry of Education, so they are aware that this kind of program is ongoing, they gave us permission to host the program.

?We also invite public and private schools to participate in the programme, so they are aware, that is the much support they have given to us.

?Every year is an improvement on the previous one so we are hopeful that next year will be better than this one,? she said.

Dr Ebidenyefa Tarila-Nikade called on the State Government and other relevant agencies to give support to the Spelling Bee program which is a yearly event.

The highlight of the event was presentation of cheques to winners of primary and secondary categories, with dictionaries, school bags, scramble games and many other items.

One of the winners, Miss Tamaramiebi Festus of Ayakpo Comprehensive College, commended the convener and sponsors of the spelling Bee competition.

She said that it was hard work that made her emerge the winner, as she commended her school management who equally contributed to her success.