Miss Bassey wins 2024 Ojutalayo’s annual maritime speech-making competition 

Stanley Ihedigbo

25 years old Rosemary Benjamin Bassey, a graduate of the University of Calabar has won the 3rd edition of Capt Dr. Fola Ojutalayo’s Annual Maritime Speech-Making Competition with an excellent speech Presentation on the topic, “Pros and Cons Of Establishing National Coast Guard In Nigeria”.

At the Grand Finale of the Competition held in Lagos on Monday during the Annual Maritime Students And Youth Conference, Rosemary defeated two other Finalists to emerge victorious and clinch the highly coveted prize.

Announcing the results at the AMSAY Conference on Monday, the Lead Judge, Mr Oluremi Abilawo stated that Miss Rosemary scored a total of 251/300 to emerge the Winner.

According to him while giving the breakdown of the results, Rosemary scored 83 in the Writing Stage, 80 in the Virtual Presentation stage, and 88 in the Final Stage.

While the First Runner Up, Miss Fatola Kehinde Eunice, a 19-year-old student of Lagos State University took the second spot with 79 points in the Writing Stage, another 79 points in the Virtual Presentation, and 66 points in the Final Stage, making a total of 224/300.

Whereas Utibe-Abasi Isaac, a graduate of Merchant Marine Training Academy, Apapa Lagos came third with a total of 217 points having scored 78, 71, and 68 points respectively in the Writing, Virtual Presentation, and Final Stages of the Competition.

As the Winner of the competition, Rosemary won an Award plaque, Certificate of Excellent Speech, and a Cash Prize of #100,000 from the competition sponsor, Capt Dr Fola Ojutalayo, including an additional N20,000 as support fund from Capt Ogunsakin Williams, making a total of N120,000.

This is even as the First Runner Up, Fatola Kehinde Eunice won N50,000 from the competition sponsor and an additional N15,000 fund donation from Capt Ogunsakin Williams, making a total of N65,000.

The Second runner-up, Utibe-Abasi Isaac got some N20,000 from the competition sponsor and an additional support donation of N15,000 from Capt Ogunsakin Williams, making a total of N35,000.

Recall that Capt Dr. Fola Ojutalayo’s Annual Maritime Speech-Making Competition was conceived and integrated into the AMSAY Conference with the sole aim of raising future eloquent speakers amongst maritime students who will be capable of making eloquent presentations on maritime topics.

A total of 38 entries were received and assessed this year and 10 were selected for the second stage while 3 were shortlisted for the final stage.