By Dayo Adesulu

The English Spelling Competition is an oral competition designed for students between the ages of 7 to 14 from primary and secondary schools in Nigeria which aims to deepen the learning experience of students in the use of English vocabulary, inspire self-confidence and help them develop interpersonal and public speaking skills as well as comprehension and communication skills.

Speaking during a media parley, Oluwatoyin Akintayo, Managing Director, Gift People Ltd who also serves as National Coordinator, SPELLIT!, said that the SPELLIT! English Spelling Competition was launched in response to the deteriorating state of the use of good English Language amongst school children and the need to stimulate educational program outside the regular school curriculum which would focus specifically on the basics of English Language.

L-R, Oluwatoyin Akintayo, Managing Director, Gift People Ltd and Olufemi Ogunyeye, Deputy Managing Director, Gift People Limited at the media parley.

“Our aim is to enrich the learning experience of the youth in English Language through extracurricular platforms such as competition where all stakeholders such as the youths, parents, schools, business and the community at large can be engaged.” He explained.

Akintayo stated that within a space of four years, the competition has metamorphosed from a state coordinated event in 2008 to a regional contest and national challenge which is impacting positively on the educational sector.

He hailed the government, ministries, sponsors, schools and the media for their contributory efforts towards the current position of the annual competition.

Recalling antecedent, he noted that no fewer than 600 schools across 7 states with 25,000 students’ have participated in the last three editions adding: “ With the help of our sponsors and media partners, a great platform is being built nationwide, where spellers can hone their skills and improve their confidence levels as well as picking up unique and relevant life skills which will stand them in good stead for their adult years”.

Akintayo hinted that the 2011/2012 SPELLIT! Competition will be conducted across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja while the state finals will hold in each of the states in March 2012 and the top three spellers in each state will receive prize awards and certificates of achievement in both the primary and the secondary categories.

“The schools of the winning participants will also walk away with prize money and/or library books and other prizes in kind,” he added.

Each state champion , according to him will also benefit from an all expense paid trip to the National finals where the top spellers nationwide will meet to lock horns and further compete for the most coveted national trophy as the National Finals is billed to take place at Landmark Village Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos in May 2012.

Also commenting on the competition, Olufemi Ogunyeye, Deputy Managing Director, Gift People Limited, reiterated that pupils and students are expected to register online via www.spellitnigeria.com, an improvement from its predominantly traditional channels of filling the forms.

Gift People Limited, a marketing media organization, is active across three key marketing disciplines of Branding, Events and Sponsorships. The company has nationwide presence across the six geo-political zones (i.e. FCT Abuja, Bauchi, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos and Akwa-Ibom States) with its head office at Plot 1679, Karimu Kotun, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Gift People has successfully birthed and run the SPELLIT! competition since inception in 2008 till the fourth season commencing in July 2011.