Recently updated on October 24th, 2022 at 03:23 pm
Omei Bongos-Ikwue has risen above her speech impairment to win the 2018 Toastmasters International Speech Contest in Accra, Ghana.
Her winning speech, entitled, “Release it”, focused on the themes of bravery, passion and generosity, which she used a moving story to illustrate that “we only receive extraordinary things when we let go of the average, or ordinary ones.”
The speeches were judged on content, organization, gestures and style.
Speaking on what inspired her victory as a public speaker, in spite of her speech impairment challenge, Omei Bongos-Ikwue said:
“When it comes to connecting with an audience, Toastmasters, as an organization has taught me how to be confident and focused.
In fact since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers/communicators.
It has shown me that every speaking opportunity is an opportunity to inspire people in an unforgettable way that a host of other Toastmasters have always inspired me.”
With this victory, Omei Bongos-Ikwue, a Public Health editor for E-Proofers, based in Abuja is poised to secure a spot in the World Championship of Public Speaking scheduled to take place at the Toastmasters International Convention, to be held In August 25, in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. She will compete with 105 other winners from districts around the world.
Bongos-Ikwue, a member of the Abuja District of Toastmaster, an affiliate of the Toastmasters International, a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders, defied her congenital stuttering challenges to achieve this feat.
Omei Bongos-Ikwue said that representing her District at the International Speech Contest “feels like the decisive stamp of victory over my speech mimpediment”, adding that she is “looking forward to competing on a much larger stage in Chicago.”
