L:R: Mr. Ohis Ehimiaghe, Manager, Market Africa, SAA, Aladetohun kamimayo Enoch (2nd), Ngwaogu Ifeoluwa Ugochi(1st), Oshimade Abisola Promise (3rd), Mrs. Kemi Like-Bamtefe, SAA country Manager and MD SAHCO, Basil Agboarumi at the event.
…winners get an all expense paid trip to SA and cash prizes
……SAA donated books to participating Schools
The joy of three secondary school students knew no bounds at the weekend as they won the third South African Airways Essay Competition, SAAEC for the year 2022 in Lagos.
In the written essay, eleven students came top out of 308 entries submitted by students across secondary schools in Lagos and Ogun states organized by Mr. Ewos Iroro of Travel and Business News and sponsored by South African Airways, SAA.
The topic of the essay is: ‘Protecting Children from Illicit Drugs and Sexual Abuse’. It is held annually in July to celebrate the birthday of the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela popularly called ‘Madiba’.
The three best emerged, after an oral essay to ascertain they were the originator of their written essays marked by independent assessors at an event held at the golfview hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Ngwaogu Ifeoluwa Ugochi of Abesan senior high school, Ipaja came first, Aladetohun kamimayo Enoch of St. Finbars college AKoka came second and Oshimade Abisola promise of Abiolu comprehensive college, Igando came third.
In his opening remarks, the special guest of honour and Manager-Market Africa, SAA Mr. Ohis Ehimiaghe isolated the main words in the title of the essay which are, children, illicit drugs and sexual abuse to stress the importance of the subject.
He said the topic is so important to SAA because, they want to impart the children in this generation and this can only be achieved through information.
“If you have genuinely done this research work and you have truly put this hard work into this essay competition, am sure you yourself will be amazed the kind of knowledge that you have now gained in terms of illicit drugs and sexual abuse”.
He drew the attention of the students to the fact that, there is a limit to one’s rights when one is 18 years and above and this rights stops where another person’s own begin.
“Once you are 18 years and above, there is a saying, that right to do whatever you like stops where my own rights begin”.
The Country Manager, SAA, Mrs. Kemi Leke-Bamtefa said, apart from essay competitions, SAA is passionate about children’s development, adding that, they are also involved in other projects which includes the adoption of orphanages over the past 20 years since operation in the country.
She stated that, the idea of the essay is to give exposure to the children and expressed the satisfaction that, it is a mixture of both public and private schools and commended the presentations and write- ups by the participating students.
Mrs. Leke-Bamtefa made a big announcement that, unlike previous years when the student who comes first gets a cash prize and a trip to South Africa, this year she said, the first three will get a cash prize and an all expense paid trip to South Africa courtesy of the airline.
She said, the involvement of public schools is commendable saying, “It is not about people that are more privileged, it supposed to be , we opened to everybody and when see public school students speak like that, write like that, it means there is hope for us in this country and that is what we are driving at”.
“At South African Airways we are looking for the positive, we are enhancing, we are promoting, we are talking about the positive and the potential of this country. We are not giving up on Nigeria and we know the relationship between south Africa and Nigeria on the business side and on the political side we are looking at the synergy and on the business side, we the Nigeria, South African Chambers of Commerce which we sponsored the breakfast meeting for professionals, we are looking at all angle to ensure that our relationship is mutually beneficial and more robust as we go on”.
Chairman of the assessors and Managing Director, Skyway Aviation Handling Company plc, Mr. Basil Agboarumi applauded South Africa Airways for its corporate social responsibility in encouraging the students to contributing their quota to the development of the society, through research projects and proffering solutions to addressing certain vices with essay competitions.
He also praised the consistency of the airline in sponsoring the competition on a yearly basis and urged them to keep up the good work.
“SAA has made our joy full, thank you may not know what you are doing, you may think you have understanding, I tell you in many, many years to come, when the story is mentioned and SAA will not be forgotten”.
Highlights of the event was the announcement of the winners and presentation of trophies as well as cash awards of N10,000 each to eight others who made it to the finals.
Winner of the 2018 SAAEC, Sharon Enuebuka in her speech, charged the winners to remain conscious of the fact that, the potential and possibilities with young people are limitless.
“To South Africa Airways, the key sponsors of this competition, I am extremely grateful to you for birthing and sponsoring this vision of investing in young people. Thank you for the impact you have made in my life and you will continue to make in the lives of many others”.
Books were also given to schools whose students made it to the finals. Teachers, guardians, Family members and friends who graced the event were elated at the organization of the competition and its outcome.
