The winners of the second edition of the Rising Star Writing Competition have received their various prizes yesterday during an Award-Giving Ceremony in Lagos by the organisers of the competition, The Writers Corner, Lagos. The event, which took place at Annes Luxury Suites, Munri Akinola, Victoria Island, held under the distinguished chairmanship of Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), University of Lagos, ably represented by Dr. Olushola Adekanbi, also of University of Lagos. Dr. Adekanbi was supported by the following dignitaries – Chief (Mrs.) Ify Nwosu, wife of the Managing Director of Greenlife Pharmaceuticals – sponsors of the competition; Dr. Uju Murphy, Managing Director Zarazit Collections; Mr. Derrick Osondu, Marketing Manager Greenlife Pharmaceutical Ltd; Ms. Omotayo Adeola, Writer and Producer; Mr. Nglass, Managing Director, Music and Speech Ltd.; Mr. Doyin Akinlade, Managing Director, KKB Show and Mrs. Funmi Adefuye, Chief Executive Officer, Sparkling Minds Institute.

The First Place Award in the Secondary Category, 43 inch Hisense Television and Certificate went to Kolom Oden-Ikpi, a 15 year old SS2 student of Yaba College of Technology Secondary School, Lagos while 9 year old, year 4 pupil of Corona School, Ikoyi-Llagos, Master Peter Adobamen went home with 32 inch Samsung Television and a Certificate.

The Second Prize Winner in both the primary and secondary categories received a Lenovo laptop and a certificate each. They winners are Nkpolara Adriana of Louisville College, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State and Valerie Akpobome of St. Saviours School, Ikoyi – Lagos. Third Place prize for secondary category of Tecno Android phone, (Phantom 6) went to Pelemo Nyajo of Starville School, Abuja while Ogunsipe Oluwadamilola Emmanuella of Livingsprings Schools, Awoyaya, Lagos also got Tecno Android phone, (Phantom 6) for in primary category.

Also, all the ten Honourable Mention Winners (Four from the Secondary Category and Six from the primary) got 20 inch Samsung Television each. They are: Chidera Okoye – Nnaeze, Louisville Girls High School, Ijebu Itele, Ogun; Aremu Oladimeji; Princenton College, Surulere, Lagos; Aboloko - Erica Oghenejite – Breakthrough Academy, Ojodu- Akute, Ogun State; Itafame Rosaline Gift Esseoghene – School Masters Academy, Ajah, Lagos; Demilade Toluhi, Temple Preparatory School, Ilupeju Lagos; Tofunmii Bankole – The Fountain School, Surulere, Lagos; Rachael Unachukwu, Corona School Ikoyi, Lagos; Olafiore Olamuyiwa – Greenspring School Anthony Lagos; Okpalaoka Somtochukwu Chizuru, Corona School Gbagada, Lagos and Chidinma Cristabel Dominic from Demmykitties School, Surulere, Lagos.

While thanking the schools and children that participated in the writing competition, Uche Udoji (Mrs.) remarked that all the children that participated keenly contested for the prizes and did very well. She pointed out that by writing, they are all winners. She encouraged children to keep writing. She said: “a professional writer is an amateur who did not quit”. Mrs. Udoji also urged parents and teachers to attach more importance to writing, especially creative writing.

The Writers Corner Coordinator, while giving God the glory for the success of the competition in the past editions, thanked the sponsors of the project, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals and the Bank of Industry for their support. She specially recounted how the managing Director of Greenlife Pharmaceuticals embraced the project proposal because of his love for children and their development. He solicited for more participation and involvement of corporate bodies in the competition. “We need more support to make the competition more competitive and more rewarding to participants. We want more children to go home with prizes,” she added.

Always remember that if you can read you can write; therefore, READ, READ, READ and WRITE, WRITE, WRITE.

•Photo shows First Place Winner, Kolom Oden-Ikpi, a 15-year-old SS2 student of Yaba College of Technology Secondary School, Lagos.