14-Year-Old Nigerian Wins African Spelling Bee Title In Zimbabwe

A 14-year-old Nigerian student, Oluwadamilola Adeolu, has clinched the Junior category title at the African Spelling Bee held in Harare.

Adeolu, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, emerged winner after outperforming contestants from more than 30 African countries in the highly competitive contest.

The achievement was confirmed by the Nigeria Spelling Bee organisers, affiliated with the Federal Ministry of Education.

“At the end of the competition, Oluwadamilola Adeolu of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti emerged as the Junior Champion, securing a remarkable victory for Nigeria in the continental contest,” the organisers said.

Nigeria also secured another podium finish in the same category, as Abdurrahman Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College placed third, while South Africa’s Ashton Singh finished second.

Beyond individual honours, Nigeria ranked as the second-best country overall in the team standings, underscoring its strong and consistent performance at the competition.

“Strong team performance — Nigeria also secured the title of 2nd Best Country Spelling Bee Team in the overall group rankings, reaffirming the country’s consistency and strength in the African Spelling Bee competition,” the statement added.

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 multiple rounds, including a speed challenge where participants spelled 20 words within one minute, as well as elimination stages based on single-word spelling.

Adeolu’s latest triumph adds to an impressive track record. She previously 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 journey 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’s latest outing reinforces its reputation as a strong contender in the African Spelling Bee, with representatives consistently excelling in both junior and senior categories over the years.