Miss Esther Ogechukwukama Etiyemonu has emerged winner of the 2026 Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition, an annual academic contest initiated over two decades ago by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
After emerging victorious at her school and local government levels, Esther qualified for the state finals, which featured contestants from the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State. The grand finale was held on December 5, 2025, and her outstanding performance earned her the overall first position. The achievement was widely reported by national newspapers, including The Nation on December 6, 2025.
As a result of her remarkable feat, Miss Etiyemonu was appointed Lagos State One-Day Governor. Although the official inauguration was delayed due to the tight schedule of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, arrangements were made for a special dinner in honour of the winners by the Deputy Governor, following the Governor’s directive.
Today, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, received the One-Day Governor and overall winner, Miss Esther Etiyemonu, a student of Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbokuta, on a courtesy visit to Lagos House, Marina.
She was accompanied by:
The One-Day Deputy Governor, Miss Dorcas Awoyemi (Ikosi Senior High School), and
The One-Day Secretary to the State Government, Miss Salami Jumai Olaide (Augus Memorial Senior High School).
In her remarks, Mrs. Hamzat commended the students for their outstanding performance and encouraged them to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to academic excellence.
Miss Esther Etiyemonu’s father, who hails from Umuekum Quarters, Amai Kingdom, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, expressed immense pride in his daughter’s achievement, describing it as the reward of perseverance, dedication, and parental support.
This remarkable success stands as an inspiration to students of Ukwuani extraction and beyond, reinforcing the importance of education, determination, and equal opportunities for both boys and girls.
Ukwuani to the world! Congratulations to Esther Ogechukwukama Etiyemonu.
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