Delta State Debate/Spelling Bee Competition 2026 by Dinzei Maureen Marris

 WELCOME ADDRESS AT THE DELTA STATE DEBATE AND SPELLING  COMPETITION

Organised by Dinzei Maureen Marris, Director, Blozzom Everyday Institute

Theme: Building Communication Skills and Embracing Educational Technology

The Special Guest of Honour, distinguished guests, representatives of participating schools, esteemed teachers, parents, members of the judging panel, our dear students, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning!

It is with great joy and a deep sense of responsibility that I warmly welcome you all to the Delta State Debate and Spelling Bee Competition  organised by Blozzom Everyday Institute.

On behalf of the management and the entire team of Blozzom Everyday Institute, I sincerely appreciate everyone who has taken the time to be part of this important educational event. To the participating schools, teachers, parents, judges and, most importantly, our wonderful students, thank you for your presence, support and commitment to educational excellence.

Today is more than a competition. It is an opportunity to discover talents, build confidence, promote intellectual development and prepare our young people for a world where effective communication, critical thinking, creativity and technological competence are increasingly important.

The History and Vision of Blozzom Everyday Institute

Blozzom Everyday Institute began in 2019, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world experienced significant changes in education, communication and the delivery of professional services. During this challenging period, the need to explore innovative ways of teaching, learning and sharing knowledge became more evident.

The Institute embraced the opportunities presented by digital learning and technology to reach learners beyond the traditional classroom. What began as a commitment to improving learning experiences has continued to develop into a broader vision of educational empowerment, professional development and lifelong learning.

Today, Blozzom Everyday Institute is a training institute dedicated to empowering teachers, lecturers, bankers, human resource managers, business owners, parents and students. Through our training programmes, we equip participants with relevant knowledge, practical skills and technological competencies to help them succeed in their respective fields.

One of the distinguishing features of the Institute is our commitment to infusing educational technology, commonly known as EdTech, into our training programmes. These edtech tools include Wayground , Kahoot, Zoom, Google Meet, Google LMS, the Interactive whiteboard, Wordwall, Microsoft teams, Whereby and many more. We recognise that we live in a rapidly changing world where knowledge alone is not enough; individuals must also be able to use appropriate technological tools to solve problems, communicate effectively and remain relevant in their professions.

Our commitment is captured in our motto: “Leaving people better than we met them.”

The trainings and retrainings at Blozzom Everyday Institute include "Work Ethics" , "Balancing Work, School and Family",  "Creative Teaching Methods" , " Innovatives in Education", "Online Teaching Skills", "Graphics design", Video Editing ", Book writing", TEFL, IGCSE, IELTS " Artificial Intelligence",  among others. These trainings are delivered online and onsite.

Our Global and National Impact

Over the years, Blozzom Everyday Institute has imparted knowledge and skills to individuals across different countries and communities around the world, including Nigeria, Ghana, Togo,  Benin Republic, South Africa, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and other parts of Asia.

Within Nigeria, our educational and training activities have reached people in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Edo, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Delta and other states and communities.

This reach reinforces our belief that education should not be limited by geographical boundaries. Through physical training, online learning and technology-supported programmes, we continue to explore ways of making learning more accessible, engaging and relevant.

In July 2026, Blozzom Everyday Institute organised its first Debate and Spelling Bee Competition in Lagos State. That event marked an important milestone in our efforts to encourage students to develop their language skills, confidence and intellectual abilities.

Today, we are delighted to bring this initiative to Delta State. We believe that every child deserves an opportunity to discover and develop their potential, irrespective of their location or background.

Our presence here reflects our commitment to expanding opportunities for young learners and creating platforms where students can demonstrate their abilities, learn from one another and develop a healthy spirit of competition.

We hope that this Delta State edition will inspire participating schools to make debates, spelling activities, reading and educational technology an integral part of their learning experiences.

The Purpose of the Competition

The purpose of this competition goes beyond winning prizes or receiving certificates. Our central objective is to improve students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing skills while introducing them to the practical use of educational technology.

Through spelling, students develop vocabulary, word recognition, pronunciation, concentration and accuracy. Through debate, they learn to research, organise their thoughts, listen attentively, construct logical arguments, speak confidently and respond respectfully to opposing views.

These skills are essential not only for academic success but also for leadership, employability and effective participation in society.

We also want our students to become familiar with EdTech tools and understand how technology can make learning more interactive, engaging and productive.

This year’s spelling bee will be infused with educational technology using the Wayground application.

The first round will be conducted digitally through the Wayground app. This will give participants the opportunity to engage with technology while demonstrating their spelling knowledge and accuracy in an interactive learning environment.

Candidates who qualify from the first round will proceed to the second round, which will involve oral spelling. At this stage, participants will demonstrate their ability to spell words aloud, with attention to accuracy, clarity and pronunciation.

Those who advance from the second round will proceed to the final round, where they will compete for the top positions in their respective categories.

This approach combines digital learning with traditional oral spelling, helping students appreciate that technology and established educational practices can complement each other.

We encourage every participant to remain calm, listen carefully to instructions, follow the rules and give their best at every stage.

Debate Topics for the Competition

Junior Debaters’ Topic: “Every school student should learn a practical skill.”

This topic challenges our younger debaters to consider the importance of practical skills in preparing students for life beyond the classroom. They may explore how practical skills promote creativity, self-reliance, entrepreneurship, problem-solving and future employment opportunities.

Senior Debaters’ Topic: “Artificial intelligence will create more opportunities than problems for Nigerian students.”

This topic invites our senior debaters to examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence on education and the future of young people in Nigeria. They may consider its potential benefits for personalised learning, research, innovation and career development, as well as concerns about misinformation, overdependence on technology, academic integrity and unequal access to digital resources.

We expect our debaters to support their positions with sound reasoning, relevant examples and credible evidence. We also encourage them to respect opposing views, demonstrate good sportsmanship and remember that the purpose of debate is not merely to defeat an opponent but to deepen understanding.

Awards, Recognition and Participation

We are pleased to announce that today’s competition will feature 12 awards across four categories, distributed as follows:

Three awards for junior spellers.

Three awards for senior spellers.

Three awards for junior debaters.

Three awards for senior debaters.

In addition, every school represented at this competition will receive a certificate of participation in recognition of its involvement and support for this educational initiative.

To our students, I encourage you to give your best. Remember that while awards are valuable, the knowledge you gain, the confidence you build and the friendships you establish are also important rewards.

Whether you emerge as a winner or not, take home the lessons, identify areas where you can improve and continue developing your abilities.

To our teachers and parents, thank you for the encouragement, guidance and preparation you have provided for these students. Your role in developing confident readers, effective communicators and responsible young people cannot be overemphasised.

I encourage schools to continue creating opportunities for students to read widely, speak publicly, participate in debates, learn practical skills and explore educational technology.

Let us work together to prepare students who can communicate effectively, think independently, adapt to change and use technology responsibly.

To our judges and officials, we appreciate your time, expertise and commitment to fairness. We trust that you will assess the participants objectively and encourage them to continue striving for excellence.

To our participating schools, we hope that this event marks the beginning of stronger partnerships and a renewed commitment to language development and technology-enhanced learning.

Conclusion

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, the future belongs to learners who are willing to grow, adapt and embrace new opportunities.

At Blozzom Everyday Institute, we believe that every student has potential worth developing. Our responsibility is to create opportunities for that potential to flourish through education, training, communication and technology so as to learn, unlearn and relearn in this fast changing world.

As we commence today’s activities, let us celebrate learning, encourage one another and demonstrate the values of discipline, respect, integrity and excellence.

May this competition inspire our students to become confident speakers, accurate spellers, thoughtful debaters and responsible users of technology.

Once again, I warmly welcome you all to the Delta State Debate and Spelling Bee Competition 2026

Thank you for being part of this remarkable educational experience.

God bless our students. God bless our schools. God bless Delta State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you, and let the competition begin!

Meet the Director of Blozzom Everyday Institute 

Dinzei Maureen Marris 

B.A. (Ed) English, M.Ed Educational Administration, TEFL, IELTS and IGCSE certifi

blozzomeverday@gmail.com, +2348030499846