Miss Iremide Ogunyemi, a student of The Ambassadors’ College, Ota, Ogun State, has emerged the star prize winner of the inaugural Fidelity Bank ‘Read2Lead’ Writing Competition, securing a N2 million cash prize, a publishing deal worth N2 million, and an additional N2 million for upgrading her school’s library. The prize was presented during the competition’s grand prize presentation event held in Lagos over the weekend.
Welcoming the audience, Mrs. Pamela Shodipo, Executive Director of the South Directorate at Fidelity Bank Plc, representing Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, OON, the bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, explained that the Read2Lead initiative was designed to help students unlock their creative potential and better position them for successful careers.
“All over the world, young people are driving change through innovation, and Nigeria is no exception. As a bank, we believe in the transformative power of education in shaping a nation’s fortunes. The Read2Lead initiative aims to foster essential skills in reading and writing, empowering students to face academic challenges confidently and solve life’s problems skillfully,” stated Onyeali-Ikpe.
The ceremony was graced by the representative of the Ogun State Commissioner of Education, Fidelity Bank executives, the top 30 participants, their parents, teachers, and media professionals.
An excited Miss Ogunyemi expressed her gratitude: “When I started, I didn’t know I would be a finalist. I just love writing and wanted to participate because this was the first competition that asked for a fictional essay. I want to thank Fidelity Bank for this initiative; it’s creative and inspiring.”
The competition also saw Miss Mfeheke Okoko and Miss Daniella Orji, both from The Ambassadors’ College, win N1.5 million and N1 million respectively as the first and second runners-up. Over 3,000 students from across Nigeria participated in three phases of writing challenges.
The first phase, dubbed “The National Writing Showdown,” saw participants complete a creative writing task. The second phase, “The Sweeta Writing Mastery,” required the top 150 students to write an alternate ending to a novel. The final phase, “The Author’s Workshop,” featured the top 30 students in an intensive writing boot camp led by experienced writers, culminating in the selection of the top three winners.