By Martis Fasusi, Okitipupa
Toddlers in Okitipupa Local Government on Wednesday put their crawling skills to the test in a crawling race competition organised by the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu as part of activities for the upcoming State Women conference.
The competition which took place at the Local Government Secretariat is expected to be carried out across all the 18 Local Governments in the State.
The participants aged between 8-11 months, competed as their eager parents tried to lure them to the finish line using treats, toys and balloons.
While the strategy worked for some, others proved to be distracted as unlookers cheered the spectacle.
In her remark, Wife of the State Governor who was represented by Mrs. Tope Daniyan, Senior Special Assistant, Gender Research and Documentation said the crawling race was the initiative of the First Lady aimed at building family ties, togetherness and mutual affection.
She added that the governor’s wife is passionate about women, family growth and unity which was part of the reasons for the competition.
Earlier in her welcome address, Chairperson Okitipupa Local Government, Mrs. Mary Adesanya appreciated the the First Lady for the privilege given unto women, girls and children to showcase their talents through her numerous pet projects which according to her, has helped in giving women the rightful place in the society.
Mrs. Adesanya admonished parents and participants to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the competition, nothing that every participant would go home as winner.
Out of the total number of toddlers carefully selected for the 10 metres crawling race, an 8 months old baby girl, Oluwafemi Adedugba emerges winner, Praise Omaha became the first runner up while Happiness Okechukwu was the second runner up .
Mrs. Oluwakemi Adedugba, who is the mother of the first winner, Oluwafemi Adedugba was full of excitement and admiration that her daughter came first.
She appreciated the First Lady for the opportunity given to the toddlers to showcase their talents.
She stressed that she has been watching crawling race on YouTube and when she heard that the first Lady would be doing similar things she was excited and was confidence that her daughter would be victorious.
At the end of the rare, gifts were presented to all the participants by the Chairperson of Okitipupa Local Government, Mrs. Mary Adesanya.
Oluwafemi Adedugba would be representing the local government in the grand finale slated for December 3 in Akure, The State Capital.
