• Donates N5m to awardee, school, coach
• Edo deputy gov gifts fourth best UTME candidate N1m to inspire others

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has awarded a full scholarship to 14-year-old Damilola Adeolu, who won two gold medals at the World Spelling Bee championship in Shanghai, China.

Damilola, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti, had earlier emerged winner of the National and African Spelling Bee Championships earlier in the year.

Oyebanji, who lauded the youngster for her amazing and brilliant performances at the competitions, also awarded monthly allowances for her upkeep and learning facilities.

He announced cash rewards of N2 million for Damilola, N2 million for her school, and N1 million for her coach.
RELATEDLY, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, has rewarded Daniel Osagiobare, an Edo-born student who emerged as the highest scorer in the South-South geopolitical zone and fourth overall in Nigeria in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with a cash gift of N1 million.

Osagiobare, who scored an impressive 368 in the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was received by the deputy governor at his office in Benin City yesterday.

Idahosa commended Osagiobare’s exceptional academic feat and described him as a worthy ambassador of Edo State.

He said the remarkable achievement had brought pride and honour to Edo State, noting that the young scholar’s brilliance, discipline and determination reflected the limitless potential of Edo youths when provided with the right support and encouragement.

He said that the N1 million cash reward was in recognition of Osagiobare’s hard work and as a deliberate effort to inspire other students across the state to pursue academic excellence.

In his response, Osagiobare expressed profound appreciation to the deputy governor for the warm reception and generous financial support.

He described the recognition as a life-changing moment and pledged to remain committed to academic excellence while striving to justify the confidence reposed in him.