August 12, (THEWILL) – Three winners have emerged, following the successful conclusion of the 3rd South Africa Airways Essay competition, which was held Friday, July 29, 2022, at the Golfview Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
The winners are Ngwaogu Ifeoluwa Ugochi of Abesan Senior High School, Ipaja, Lagos, who came first with a cash prize of N150,000; Adetohun Kamimay Enoch of St Finbarrs College, Akoka, who came second with a cash prize of N100,000 and Shimade Abiola Promise of Abiolu Comprehensive College, Igando, who came out third with a cash prize of N50,000.
In the end, the winners were presented with Award Trophies for 1st – 3rd positions, as well as branded notebooks presented to the school teachers for their various schools. Goodie Bags with various items were also presented to all the students and there was a consolation prize of N10,000 each for the runners-up from positions 4 – 11.
The 2018 winner of the competition, Miss Enuebuka Sharon from Murtala Muhammed Airport Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos, who was accompanied by her mother, was on hand to cheer the finalists with a video showcasing her trip to South Africa and delivering her handover speech.
She also presented the symbolic Airbus Aircraft Winners Baton to Ngwaogu Ifeoluwa Ugochi of Abesan Senior High school, ipaja. This marks the beginning of her tenure as Brand/Industry Ambassador of the airline until she hands over to a new winner at the next edition of the contest.
The Grand Finale was, however, graced by the presence of high-profile industry personalities.
These include the Manager Africa Market, South African Airways, Mr Ohis Ehimiaghe; the Country Manager, Mrs Kemi Leke-Bamtefa; and the Managing Director, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc., Mr Basil Agboarumi among others.
The topic for this year’s essay contest was: “Protecting Children from Illicit Drugs and Sexual Abuse.”
In his remark, Mr Ehimiaghe said, “South African Airways is passionate about children and takes a lot of pride in addressing issues that affect them considering that they are the future of any nation.”
The competition gained greater awareness and attracted a total of three hundred and eight entries from Secondary Schools in Lagos and Ogun States representing a total number of forty-six schools comprising a mix of students from Public, Private and Missionary Schools. Out of the total number of entries assessed by an Independent Panel of Assessors drawn from a wide spectrum of the Aviation, Educational and Media sectors, eleven top finalists were selected with total written scores ranging from 98% to 85%. They were then invited to the grand finale for a face-to-face defense of their written works through a robust session of oral presentations.
Mrs Leke-Bamtefa noted that the competition is part of the airline’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) initiative, as well as working with and supporting orphanages around the country among others.
She also expressed delight at the blend of students from public, private and missionary schools who took part in the contest and spoke excellent and delivered eloquent presentations.
“At South African Airways, we are looking for the positive side; we are enhancing, we are promoting the potential of Nigeria and building greater on the excellent relationship shared between Nigeria and South Africa”, she said.
In an unprecedented development at this year’s event, the Country Manager took everyone by surprise when she announced that with the kind support of the Manager Africa Market, the airline will not only send the 1st prize winner to South Africa on an all-expenses paid trip as was done in the past two editions but that all three students from 1st – 3rd positions will be sponsored by the airline this year.
She also used the occasion to announce that the airline is currently considering taking the competition to other parts of the country and may likely begin with a pilot contest in Kaduna for the 2023 edition and possibly Port Harcourt in the following year.
