By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Students of Kankon Model College and organizers [Photo Credit: City Mood] |
BADAGRY, LAGOS – The halls of Badagry Grammar School echoed with the sounds of intellectual rigor on Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 as Lagos State Model Senior College, Kankon, emerged as the grand champion of the 2026 Isaac Sewanu Educational Foundation (ISEF) Spelling Bee.
In a display of linguistic precision and mental fortitude, the Kankon-based school outpaced its peers to claim the prestigious title in one of Badagry’s most competitive academic events.
The competition, organized by the Isaac Sewanu Educational Foundation, brought together the brightest young minds from various senior secondary schools across the region. Designed to test spelling accuracy, vocabulary depth, and public speaking confidence, the 2026 edition proved to be a high-stakes arena for local academic talent.
The event featured several grueling rounds of "sudden death" spelling, where participants had to navigate complex English words under the watchful eyes of judges and an eager audience. After a tense final round, Lagos State Model Senior College, Kankon, secured the first-place trophy, cementing its reputation as a center for academic excellence.
The competition was fiercely contested until the final moment. Ikoga Senior Grammar School put up a remarkable performance to finish as the first runner-up, while the host institution, Badagry Grammar School (Senior), rounded out the top three by taking the third-place position.
Speaking at the grand finale, Mr. Isaac Sewanu, the visionary founder of ISEF, emphasized that the initiative is more than just a competition. He described it as a strategic tool for motivating students to embrace their studies and develop a lifelong love for learning.
"The competition helps students build confidence, improve their vocabulary, and develop strong learning habits," Sewanu noted. He further explained that by providing a platform for healthy competition, the foundation aims to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application of language skills.
Highlighting the foundation’s long-term vision, Mr. Sewanu revealed that the 2026 Spelling Bee is only the beginning. ISEF plans to scale its operations to reach even more students across the diverse communities of Badagry. The foundation is currently designing additional educational programs aimed at rewarding diligence and providing scholarships for exceptional learners.
The event drew a significant crowd of teachers, school administrators, and education advocates. Many attendees lauded the foundation for its innovative approach to student engagement. By focusing on fundamental skills like spelling and vocabulary, ISEF is perceived as a critical partner in the state’s quest to improve literacy levels.
"Nurturing talent requires more than just textbooks; it requires a platform for students to shine," one school administrator remarked. The success of the 2026 Spelling Bee has further solidified ISEF’s growing reputation as a leader in educational empowerment within Lagos State.
For the students of Model College Kankon, this victory is a testament to their hard work and the dedication of their educators. As they return to their campus with the gold trophy, they carry with them the inspiration to achieve even greater heights in their future West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and other external assessments.