Winning a spelling competition has earned one young learner more than a trophy and recognition.
Ochulor Precious, Senior Prefect of My Dream Stead School and winner of the school’s maiden internal Spelling Bee competition, was rewarded with an all-expenses-paid educational trip to Abuja, alongside a scholarship and the unique opportunity to serve as the school’s proprietor for a day.
The Abuja trip was designed to give Precious an opportunity to learn beyond the classroom through direct exposure to leadership, governance, civic institutions and other educational and cultural experiences.
As part of the experience, Precious was hosted at the National Assembly by Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District.
Her visit to the Senate Building offered her a first-hand opportunity to learn about Nigeria’s legislative process and gain insight into the workings of the National Assembly.
Precious also visited the Police Service Commission, where she was received by Barrister Taiwo Lakanu, DIG (Rtd.), Commissioner II.
During the visit, she was introduced to the mandate, structure and responsibilities of the Commission, giving her a practical understanding of an important institution within Nigeria’s security and governance system.
The educational experience extended beyond visits to government institutions.
Precious toured several notable locations across Abuja, including the Art and Craft Market and Abuja City Gate. She also visited an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, shopped at Ceddi Plaza and explored other recreational and educational attractions within the city.
Reflecting on the experience, Precious expressed gratitude to My Dream Stead School for creating what she described as a memorable and impactful opportunity.
For her, the trip provided an opportunity to learn outside the traditional classroom, interact with leaders and institutions, and gain experiences that could shape her aspirations for the future.
The initiative reflects the educational philosophy of the school’s proprietor, Amb. Isaac Success Omoyele, who believes that education should go beyond academic instruction to include exposure, leadership development, experiential learning and opportunities that help children discover and pursue their potential.
The school’s approach is rooted in the belief that academic excellence should be celebrated in ways that also encourage children to dream bigger, understand the society around them and begin to see themselves as future leaders.
Rather than limiting the reward for winning the Spelling Bee to a conventional prize, My Dream Stead School used the opportunity to expose Precious to places, people and institutions that many young learners may only encounter through textbooks or classroom discussions.
The school acknowledged the contributions of Luxuriate Travels and Tours, Hadassah Dream Events and House 575 for helping to make the educational tour possible.
Through initiatives such as this, My Dream Stead School says it remains committed to nurturing children’s dreams through academic excellence, character development, leadership, experiential learning and real-world exposure.
For Precious Ochulor, the spelling bee victory became an opportunity not only to be celebrated for her academic achievement, but also to experience a different kind of classroom, one that took her into the heart of Nigeria’s capital and introduced her to the people and institutions shaping the country.
