… of his lateness, Okupe gained from the coaching.

Analyze the question: The sentence is "____ of his lateness, Okupe gained from the coaching." The blank is followed by "of", so we need a phrase that naturally takes "of" and shows contrast: he was late, yet he still benefited.

Explain the concept: "In spite of" is a prepositional phrase meaning "even though something happened or exists." It always includes "of."

• "Despite" has the same meaning, but it is never followed by "of." We say "despite his lateness" or "in spite of his lateness," not "despite of his lateness."
• "Instead of" would need "instead" followed by "of," and its meaning (as a replacement) doesn't fit here.
• "In case of" means "if something happens," which is also not the meaning we want.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Notice the structure "____ of his lateness." The blank must combine with "of."
2. Check the meaning: being late would normally reduce what he gained, but he gained anyway. This is a contrast, which calls for "in spite of."
3. Test each option: • A. "Despite of his lateness": incorrect, because "despite" does not take "of." • B. "Instead of his lateness": the option given is just "Instead," so it fails, and the meaning is illogical anyway. • C. "In spite of his lateness": correct in grammar and meaning. • D. "In case of his lateness": means "if he is late," so it doesn't fit.

Answer: C. In spite

Tip: Remember the pair: "Despite" = no "of"; "In spite" = needs "of." If you see "of" right after the blank, "in spite" is almost always the answer. This is a favorite JAMB trap, so watch for "despite of," which is always wrong.