A 14-year-old Nigerian student, Oluwadamilola Adeolu, has won the Junior category of the African Spelling Bee competition held in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Ms Adeolu, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti, emerged winner after competing against participants from over 30 African countries.
The organisers, Nigeria Spelling Bee, disclosed the development in a statement, noting that her victory marks another milestone for Nigeria in the continental academic contest.
“At the end of the competition, Oluwadamilola Adeolu… emerged as the Junior Champion, securing a remarkable victory for Nigeria,” the statement said.
In the same category, Abdurrahman Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, finished third, while Ashton Singh of South Africa placed second.
Beyond the individual achievement, Nigeria also recorded a strong team performance, finishing as the second-best country overall in the competition’s team rankings.
The organisers described this as a reflection of the country’s consistency and strength in spelling competitions across Africa.
Other members of Team Nigeria included Oghenetano Idoghor of Mountain Top Schools, Lagos; Chinedu Okediachi of Madonna International Schools, Asaba; and Maryam Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International School, Ilorin.
The competition featured several stages, including a speed round in which participants were required to correctly spell 20 words within one minute, as well as elimination rounds.
Ms Adeolu’s latest victory adds to a series of strong performances in previous competitions. She placed second in the 2023 MTN Spelling Bee, second in the 2024 Ekiti State Spelling Bee, fifth in the 2025 African Spelling Bee, and second in the 2025 Nigeria Spelling Bee.
Her path to the continental title began with a first-place finish at the Ekiti State level, followed by a second-place performance at the national finals in Port Harcourt.
Nigeria has maintained a strong presence at the African Spelling Bee over the years, with its representatives securing multiple titles in both junior and senior categories.
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