By Cecilia Ogezi
A pupil of the Local Education Authority(LEA) Primary School Estate in Gwagwalada Area Council, Mansur Umar, has won the 3rd edition of the AfriGrowth Reading Competition held in Abuja.
Umar who emerged victorious in the 2nd and concluding phase of the 3rd edition of the reading competition, beat four others to emerge the winner of the competition.
President of the foundation, Dr. Dayo Keshi, while speaking during the competition explained that since 2012, AfriGrowth Foundation developed the Library Literacy Program to encourage the "back to read culture, especially in underserved communities to reawaken a slumbering reading culture in Nigeria, through the provision of library facilities and other supportive systems.
The foundation, according to her, has since inception of the program, established 41 Libraries in primary schools located in underserved communities in FCT Abuja, Nassarawa, Ondo, Kwara, and the Delta States; and donated over 80,000 storybooks to date. The program has impacted the lives of over 45,000 pupils; improving their reading skills.
She noted that the libraries have improved the reading of school pupils, as it is evident that schools with libraries interventions perform very well in the Reading Competition.
The president disclosed that the foundation received submissions of videos from the 23 Local Education Authority Primary schools in Abuja, allowing participation from schools without library intervention, after which an assessment was carried out by an independent panel of judges who selected the best 5 entries for the final phase of the competition.
While congratulating the pupils on a good outing, Dr. Keshi said it was imperative for every child to become fully competent in reading in order to succeed in school and discharge even basic responsibilities as a citizen. She added that teachers must be commended for their guidance in preparing the children for the competition as she awarded them certificates of appreciation.
The participating schools were LEA Primary School, Azhayapi, Bwari, represented by Chioma Emmanuel; LEA Primary School, Estate, Gwagwalada, represented by Mansur Umar; LEA Primary School, Bamishi, Kuje represented by Emmanuella Alormario; LEA Primary School, Iddo Bobota, AMAC represented by Cletus Victory; and Gadonasko Science Primary School, Gwagwalada, represented by Awelewa Elijah.
The Contest, which was highly competitive, was anchored by a panel of judges, which included, Mrs. Olaoye Bolanle Titilope, an English Teacher from Government Day Secondary School, Wuse II and Ihuoma C. Emeruwa, Executive Director, Favor Discovery Foundation.
The winning school, now a second-time winner having won the previous edition held in June 2019 left with the cup, certificate just as all other contestants were given medals and branded AfriGrowth Foundation school bags and exercise books.
Umar, expressing his gratitude, noted that he was happy to have won the competition even as he thanked the foundation for the privilege.
A teacher, Mrs. Egugwu C. Obinne, from LEA Primary School, Estate, the winners of the Competition; praised AfriGrowth Foundation for organizing a legendary competition. She said the school library, which the foundation established in her school in March 2017 has indeed added value to the lives of pupils and increased their interest in reading storybooks.
She pledged that the school will continue to work with the foundation in inculcating a reading culture in school children. NNL.
