The University of Port Harcourt International Group of Schools has won the 2023 Spelling Bee Competition.
The competition, which was the second edition, was organised by the University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) to improve the academic performance of both primary school pupils and secondary school students in Port Harcourt.
The competition, which took place at  Gladys Cooley Centre at the Abuja Campus of the University of Port Harcourt on Saturday, had two categories of participants: the primary school category and the secondary school category.
UPWA International Group of Schools clinched the first position in the primary school category, while Air Force School emerged winner in the secondary school category.
In her remarks, the President of the University of UPWA, Prof. Udeme Owunari Georgewill, expressed delight over the success of the exercise and attributed the improvement  recorded at the second edition to the efforts being made by the teachers and parents.
She said she was particularly grateful to the teachers for imparting the right knowledge to both the pupils and students, which she said  they exhibited at the competition.
Georgewill, who is the wife of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, hinted on the readiness of UPWA to partner with parents to inculcate in the pupils and students the right basic educational skills to become better citizens, stressing that the Spelling Bee Competition is a competition and never a do-or-die affair.
According to her, it is aimed at fostering friendship, oneness and improved academic performance of participants.
She promised to sustain and continue the exercise and to involve more schools with a view to building a better society where parents shall be proud of their children.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof  Chinenye Awuto, revealed that the competition was part of activities lined up for the celebration of this year’s Children’s Day, as it was an academic exercise geared towards making new friends and interacting with them.
She commended the wife of the Vice Chancellor for initiating such an innovative programme for pupils and students.

On her part, the Chairman of UPWA Advisory Committee, Prof Ngozi Iroulor, said she was excited over the performance of the pupils and students, saying, the amazing thing was that the participants had shown that they were doing well academically, and applauded the UPWA President for her positive drive to better the pupils and students.
The participating schools  included UPWA International Group of Schools, University of Port Harcourt Demonstration Secondary School, Right Start School, Cleverland School, Jacobs Well School, Air Force School, St Nicholas’ Anglican School, Intelligentsia Garden School, and Rock Base.