How The Bee Makes Icons

MOHAMMED ISHAKA --

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Lagos has had more governors than every other state in Nigeria. It is amazing that most of them ruled while they were under the age of seventeen. Akinwumi Ambode is the nineteenth governor just in this fourth republic. In 2014, it was a fifteen-year-old son of a carpenter and in 2016, it was young Olaseinde Olufemi that ruled the state.

Just as a child of less than fifteen years takes home a legitimate $40,000 in the United States of America, so does an under-seventeen in Nigeria goes home with N1million.

Along with all these benefits are other numerous bragging presents and awards that put smiles on the faces of their loved ones, especially the parents. This shows the extent to which literacy has been attached much importance.

In Lagos State, it was introduced in 2001 by the New Era Foundation (NEF). In the United States, it was initiated by the E. W. Scripps Company in 1925 and in Nigeria (at the national level), it was set up by the Young Educators Foundation (YEF) in 2014. It is called 'Spelling Bee' and the winners are the beneficiaries of the aforementioned prestige and materials. In Lagos State, the winner of the spelling bee and the runner-up emerge one-day Governor and Deputy Governor respectively.

It is noteworthy that Lagos State government tracks the progress of the past winners of the competition to ensure they succeed in life. In fact, since 2009, there has been in the state what is known as Council of One Day Governors (CODG) that consists of the past winners of the spelling competition and their runners-up. Regular meetings are held among themselves, while some are held with Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the President of the foundation that has made them who they are.

Therefore, parents and caretakers should be inspired towards ensuring that their young ones join the successful class. Children are easily encouraged by seeing successes of others. So, the stories of the past Spelling Bee winners can effectively do the motivation.