#National News

Fatoumatta Ceesay wins TAKE-M national spelling bee

May 26, 2022, 12:24 PM | Article By: Cherno Omar Bobb

Fatoumatta Ceesay, a five-grader at First Foundation Academy was last Saturday declared winner of the 2022 TAKE-M Transformation Organisation organised national Lower Basic Schools spelling bee.

A total of twenty-one schools took part in the finals held at Q-City in Bijilo.

As winner, she received a trophy, cash of D10,000, a certificate as well as other gifts.

Ebrima Trawalley, a student of Anne Marie Javouhey Academy came second and received an amount of D7,500, a certificate and other gifts as well.

Aisha Jammeh, a student of First Foundation Academy finished third and was rewarded with an amount of D5,000, a certificate and other gifts.

Other winners include, Haddy Billo Mbye, a student of Advance Basic Cycle School and Christopher Mendy, of Early Child Academy occupying fourth and fifth positions respectively.

All the finalists were each awarded a certificate and also handed gifts.

Fatoumatta Ceesay, winner of the championship, expressed delight after being declared the winner.

Madam Isatou Ndow, vice principal of Gambia College, expressed delight with the total number of schools, who participated in the championship.

The spelling bee competition, she added, would go a long way in helping students to read and know a lot of words.

"The organizers need to be emulated to ensure we have the competition across the country."

The competition, she added, would also motivate students and boost their self confidence.

Also speaking, Tunde Muyi Ogundimu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) TAKE-M Transformation Organisation, said his passion for quality education is the reason why he has been organising the championship for the past 8 years.

He explained that children are the future and need exposure especially in extracurricular activities outside the classroom.

Mr. Tunde noted that due to their belief that children are the future and need to be nurtured, they are initiating a new competition called African Nations Current Affairs Competition and other projects.

He thanked their sponsors for their support over the years as well as teachers and parents for their support to children.

He, however urged parents to be coming out in their large numbers to support their children on such occasions. This, he added, would boost their confidence.

Omar K. Jammeh, on behalf of the Governor of Central Bank of The Gambia, expressed their resolve to continue supporting what he described as a ‘worthy cause’.

He thus congratulated all finalists, further urging them to be disciplined in order to achieve their goals in life.

Eng. Chief Sulayman Bah, Bah Global Empire Construction, also urged students to have a dream and work towards achieving it.

Alhagie Ceesay in deputizing for the director of Regional Education Directorate 2, said education goes beyond the four corners of the classroom.