PRESS RELEASE ON THE 4TH EDITION OF THE RISING STAR WRITING COMPETITION AND AWARDS 2019 THEME: IT’S OK TO SAY NO

The Rising Star Writing Competition and Awards is an annual Creative Writing Competition for Primary and Secondary Schools Pan Nigeria.

The Competition and Awards are organized by The Writers Corner in collaboration with Vuvuzela Communication Limited to help improve children’s creative and critical thinking while developing their writing skills.

The Competition has grown since it was flagged of on the 3rd of December, 2015. It has become popular since inception as more schools and individuals have joined making the entries more competitive because more children are writing and striving to put all the writing devices to better use.

Greenlife Pharmaceuticals, being our sponsor over the years, has richly rewarded and is still rewarding the winning entries with various prizes such as laptops, tablets, phones, televisions, printers, books and certificates.

This year’s Theme: ITS OKAY TO SAY NO, was a well thought out and international move to inspire the children to have a voice as important individuals of society and stand up for their rights at all times against issues pertaining to all forms of pressure and abuse.

We had 655 entries of which 12 entries took the 1^{st ,}  2^nd and 3^rd  places in the Secondary and Primary Categories of Poetry and Short Stories. Another 12 entries emerged as Honorary Mentions, therefore giving a total number of 24 awardees.

Some of the popular trends as seen from the entries includes but not limited to bullying, sexual related abuse, physical abuse, verbal and emotional abuses, drugs, alcohol and peer pressure.

15 entries were disqualified in this 4th Edition for various reasons such as Multiple Entries, Entries coming after the deadline of Thursday 20th June, 2019, submissions that were not original, entries with obvious adult assistance, submissions with less than 200 words for Primary Categories and less than 500 words for Secondary Categories.

Details of the results show that:

FOR THE PRIMARY SECTION: FIRST PLACE WINNERS:  SHORT STORY WRITING – ORJI, JAYDEN Year 4, Grange School, Lagos. POETRY  – OSAHISI, FORTUNE, Year 6 Corona School   Lekki ,  Lagos. SECOND PLACE WINNERS: SHORT STORY WRITING – ADEIGBE  NIMONI Year  3   St. Saviours School., Ikoyi, Lagos. POETRY – UWANA-ABASI INYENEOBONG Livingspring School, Awoyaya, Lagos. THIRD PLACE WINNERS: SHORT STORY WRITING  – OBI, KAMDI ,  9 Years old Year 4 Unique Children’s School, Omole Phase 1 , Lagos  School, Lagos. POETRY – AKEJU OLUWAKANYINSOLA , Corona  School, Ikoyi, Lagos.

FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOL CATEGORY: FIRST PLACE WINNERS: SHORT STORY WRITING  – ONYEMA ONYINYE,  12 years old ,Grange School , Lagos. POETRY  – GALADIMA ADZIRA , SS2, Louisville Girls’ College Ijbu-Itele, Ogun State. SECOND PLACE WINNERS: SHORT STORY WRITING – ANETOR  EBHABHA   ZORA – Louisville Girls’ College, Ijebu-Itelle. POETRY – IJEOMA YVONNE CHIBUKO JSS 2, Holy Child College, Obalende, Lagos.                THIRD PLACE WINNERS: SHORT STORY WRITING – OGONI FRIEDA, Starville Secondary School, Abuja. POETRY – IDARA ENANG  12 Years old, Redeemers’ International Secondary School, Maryland, Lagos.

HONOURARY MENTIONS These are also outstanding entries worthy of mentioning: These names are in no particular order. 1.  SOGBESAN TOLUWANIMI- Flora High School, Year 10, 13 years old. 2. JOHNSON OYINDASOLA- Princeton College Surulere, Lagos, Year 9, 14 years old. 3. ABRAHAM ELOHO –Graceworth School, Lagos. 4. OKOLI DAVID – Daystar Schools, Awka Anambra, Pry 4, 9 years old. 5. UGO-OGOKE CHUKWUKANYIMA -Marywood  Girls College, Ebute Meta, Lagos, SS2, 15 years old. 6. NATHANIEL CHIMDIUTO UCHEGBUE—JECO College, Lagos, JSS3, 12 years old. 7. OBIECHE CHIBUIKE EBUBE—-Assured Hope Christian College-Ijanikin Lagos. 8.VIVICA EZIRIM—KIMBED International School, Agbara, Ogun. 9.OKAFOR  IFUNANYA- Ivy League Montessori School, Surulere Lagos. 10. BAMIDELE VICTOR- Bookers International School, SS1, 13 years old. 11. FESTUS TEMIDAYO JOSEPH- Woodland Hills High School, JSS3, 12 years old. 12. OKIKE GODSPOWER- PAFIC Excellent Nursery and Primary School, Lagos.

We here again, thank Greenlife Pharmaceuticals for believing and working with us since inception to ensure the steady improvement of the literacy standards among schools in Nigeria. We also use this opportunity to thank all the individuals and schools that have participated in this noble competition and encourage more schools especially the government owned schools to come on board.   While thanking you for your interest and support, we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, 25th September 2019 at the Award Ceremony.
Thank you! Sincerely, Uche Udoji Coordinator RSWCA /CEO of The Writers’ Corner. 07062906996