The long awaited Grand Finale of the 3rd South African Airways Essay competition (SAAEC 2022) was an emotionally packed ceremony that came to a close with an unexpected twist for the three (03) already elated winners that emerged from the competition.
The event which brought together students from public, private and missionary schools took place on Friday July 29, 2022 at the Golfview Hotel, GRA, Ikeja – Lagos, and attracted notable industry personalities the likes of Mr. Ohis Ehimiaghe, Manager Africa Market, South African Airways (SAA); Mr. Basil Agboarumi, Managing Director, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc.; Mrs. Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, Country Manager SAA among others.
Mr. Ehimiaghe who commented on the choice of this year’s essay topic, “Protecting Children from Illicit Drugs and Sexual Abuse” said South African Airways is passionate about children. As such, the airline makes it a point and a priority to address issues that affect them because they are the future of any nation.
On her part, Mrs. Leke-Bamtefa stressed on the importance of focusing on positively impacting young Nigerians as part of SAA’s grand scheme of Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) initiatives in a bid to strengthen the already potent ties between Nigeria and South Africa:
“At South African Airways, we are looking for the positive side; we are enhancing; we are promoting the potential of Nigeria and building something greater on the excellent relationship shared between Nigeria and South Africa”, she said.
A total number of forty-six (46) schools participated in the competition, with three hundred and eight (308) entries submitted by students from public, private and missionary secondary schools in Lagos and Ogun States.
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 85% – 98%. These were then invited to the grand finale for a face-to-face defense of their written works at a vigorous and engaging session of oral presentations.
At the end of the Oral Defense Session, winners emerged as follows:
1. NGWAOGU IFEOLUWA UGOCHI
ABESAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, IPAJA
1st Position with a cash prize of N150,000
2. ALADETOHUN KAMIMAYO ENOCH
ST. FINBARR’S COLLEGE, AKOKA
2nd Position with a cash prize of N100,000
3. OSHIMADE ABISOLA PROMISE
ABIOLU COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE, IGANDO
3rd Position with a cash prize of N50,000
Trophies were presented to all three winners; consolation prizes of N10, 000 were given to each of the runners up from positions 4 – 11; all students present at the event received goodie bags and branded notebooks were also handed out to the school teachers who accompanied their students to the event.
Also present at the grand finale was Miss Sharon Enuebuka of Murtala Muhammed Airport Secondary School, Ikeja – Lagos, winner of SAAEC 2018, accompanied by her mother. In a self-shot video, the former winner delivered her handover speech and showcased her trip to South Africa. She later presented the symbolic Airbus Aircraft Winners Baton to Ngwaogu Ifeoluwa Ugochi of Abesan Senior High school – Ipaja, current winner and new Brand/Industry Ambassador of the airline until she hands over to a new winner at the next edition of the contest.
In a surprising twist, the Country Manager stated that with the kind support of the Manager Africa Market, all three students from 1st – 3rd positions will be sponsored by the airline on an all expenses paid trip to South Africa – an announcement which took everyone by surprise as during previous editions of the competition, only the 1st prize winners were sponsored.
She went on to announce that plans are currently underway to organize SAAEC in other parts of the country. According to Mrs. Leke-Bamtefa, a pilot contest in Kaduna is already being planned for the 2023 edition, with another to be held in Port-Harcourt in the following year.
