WINNERS have emerged at the 3rd South Africa Airways Essay competition (SAAEC 2022) Grand Finale which took place on Friday July 29, 2022 at the Golfview Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
The topic for this year’s essay contest was: “Protecting Children from Illicit Drugs and Sexual Abuse” and at the end of a keenly contested Oral Defense Session, Ngwaogu Ifeoluwa Ugochi Abesan Senior High School, Ipaja came up 1st Position with a cash prize of N150,000 while Aladetohun Kamimayo Enoch of St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka was 2nd Position with a cash prize of N100,000.
Oshimade Abisola Promise of Abiolu Comprehensive College, Igando came 3rd with a cash prize of N50,000 with all winners were presented with Award Trophies as well as specially branded note books presented to the school teachers for their various schools. Goodie Bags with various items were also presented to all the students and there were also consolation prizes ofN10,000 each for the runners up from positions 4 – 11.
During this year’s event, sponsors 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.
The finale was graced by the presence of high profile industry personalities including 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.
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.â€
The competition gained greater awareness and attracted a total of three hundred and eight (308) entries from Secondary Schools in Lagos and Ogun States representing a total number of forty six
(46) schools comprising of 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 (11) top finalists were
selected with total written scores ranging from 98% to 85%. They were then invited to the Grand Final 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) initiatives 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.
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 airline country manager 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.
