The Kwara State Banquet hall, the largest government event place brimmed with passion and tension in the contest of giants in the nebulous art of spelling like a bee. It was the grand finale of the Great Kwara Spelling Bee contest, organized by the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Leah Charity Foundation and Women and Child Watch Initiatives (WOCWI).

Eleven contesting students of two hundred and twelve students that began the competition stood before the 'all seeing eyes' of their teachers, parents, school mates and government functionaries to display their mettle at spelling.

Familiar words were made unfamiliar with their proper accentuation and pronunciation, though meanings and word usage were generously offered to accompany them. The choice of words put to the students were from a wide spectrum of tongue-twisting and jaw-breaking ones like 'camaraderie' and 'autohagiographer', through 'llama' starting with double consonants, to words with Francophone decent and pronunciation such as 'legerdemain' and 'lasagna'. The hall was agog when a student among the audience, who thought he was asked to spell 'zoo' for 'sioux', which none of the contestant got right spelt it as 'z-zero-zero'.

Yet Atte Anuoluwapo only missed but one word in the competition, giving her an edge over Haliru Ganiyat, who only missed two at the final round, both girls proving that they are made of superior stuffs than men in the contest.

Of notice in the contest is the outstanding performance of a Junior Secondary School (JSS) boy, Garuba Favour, who would have clinched the third place against a Senior Secondary School Student (SSS) by the whiskers, but the experience of Samuel Agbede of Goshen Christian Academy, Bacita (of SSS, the first runner-up in 2011) won him the third place this year.

The contest almost ended an all-girl conquest but for Samuel Agbede's emergence as the third prize winner while a dark bespectacled girl, Atte Anuoluwapo (Thomas Adewumi, Oko) carted the first prize and Haliru Ganiyat (Unilorin Secondary School) carted the second prize. Anuoluwapo could not hold her laughter of joy, as she had all her photo shots showing her well set teeth.

The First Lady of the State, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, who was represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Felicia Peter said that every child counts, and that that drives the education sector in the state.

In his lecture, Prof. Bayo Lawal, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), University of Ilorin ran through the world's greatest inventions, and concluded that this era of smart phones and computers have reduced the skills of young ones at using the English language.

Prof. Lawal urged the government to reward excellence among students so that education is matched with productivity, especially in English language, which he said is the Nigerian lingua franca.

Rewards for the champions were such that could encourage and provoke more hard work in students. Cash prizes in form of scholarships were presented to the winners: The First lady of Kwara State, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed presented a cash prize of Two hundred thousand (200,000.00) Naira to the first; The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulrazaq Atunwa presented a cash prize of One hundred and fifty thousand (150,000.00) Naira to the second; and the Emir of Ilorin, HRH Alh. (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari presented a cash prize of One hundred thousand (100,000.00) Naira to the third. A Laptop each and mattress was presented to the three winners that made it to the final round. The teachers who coached the students were presented trophies, and they also qualified for an international trip with their student.

Perhaps stemming from the call by parents and audience that particular consideration be given to the Junior School students among the finalists, Garuba Favour (St. Anthony's College), the student who would have won the third place and another young girl, Aderibigbe Anuoluwa (Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo) were presented a cash prize of Twenty five thousand Naira (25,000) each by the Honourable Commissioner of the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Mohammed Raji. Books were also presented to the eleven finalists by Learn Africa Plc and other private individuals.

Representing the organizers, Barr. (Mrs.) Biola Adimula, Chairperson Board of Trustees, Women and Child Watch Initiatives (WOCWI) noted that spelling is associated with students' performance in school.

Her words: "Spelling words are associated with students' grade levels as part of the required vocabulary for each class. By relating spelling words of science, literature, and history concepts, students internalize the definitions and correct usage much more easily, and repeated exposure through class assignments, reviews, and tests help them memorize the proper spelling."