A former student of Bloombreed High School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, who bagged the 2026 Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award, Miss Osime Covenant Ijegbai, has said that she spent five hours to read everyday.
Miss Osime Ijegbai Covenant gained the highest mark in the world for Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language in the November 2025 exams.
Speaking to reporters in Benin City, the 16 years teenager said the award showed her true capabilities.
According to her, “I spent five hours to read everyday. This award means a lot to me. It is a huge milestone in my life and marks the beginning of more successes.
“Although, it does not define me, it shows my true capabilities. I am forever grateful for it and thankful to God that all my efforts did not go to waste.
Her father, a former Commissioner for Mining and candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Owan Federal Constituency, Andrew Ijegbai, dedicated the award to Governor Monday Okpebholo is a huge investment in the education sector.
Ijegbai said his daughter displayed rare love to study while growing up as a child.
He said the award would spur him to visit schools and encourage students across Owan Federal Constituency if elected in next year’s general election.
His words, “She was awarded the best English student in the world from British Council and the Cambridge. I am very happy and very proud that she made my family proud. It shows the money I have been paying is not wasted.
That will encourage me to do more and also encourage other students to copy from her.
“Whenever I go to her school, her mates will tell me she speaks English accent. That is how she has been from time. She does not pretend. She has been able to prove that her spoken English is a display of her brilliance. I dedicate this award to Governor Monday Okpebholo, under his shine agenda.
Since he appointed me as a commissioner, in less than a year, I became a candidate of house of representatives, and my daughter graduated from one of the universities in Toronto.Today we are receiving an award as the best English student in the world.
“There was no extra lessons for her. She is a dedicated student. From childhood, she pays attention to whatever you asked her to do, she will do it and pay attention to it. She is very meticulous. She will make sure she did it the right way. She has won other awards as best dressed students, best behaved and dedicated.
“I will encourage students, and visit schools. I will hold town meetings with them. I will provide for them and give them conducive environment to perform.”
Her mother, Juliet Ijegbai, prayed her daughter remained the kind and grounded person.