Nigerian student Oluwadamilola Adeolu wins Junior category at African Spelling Bee in Zimbabwe, with Nigeria securing 2nd-best team ranking

A 14-year-old Nigerian student, Oluwadamilola Adeolu, has emerged as the Junior Champion at the African Spelling Bee held in Harare, Zimbabwe.

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Adeolu, a pupil of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti, outperformed contestants from over 30 African countries to secure the top spot.

“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,” organisers stated.

In the same category, Abdurrahman Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, claimed third place, while South Africa’s Ashton Singh came second, further showcasing Nigeria’s strong performance.

Nigeria also finished as the second-best country overall in the team rankings, reaffirming the nation’s consistent success at the continental competition.

Other team members 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 African Spelling Bee featured multiple stages, including a speed round requiring participants to spell 20 words in one minute and single-word elimination rounds.

Adeolu’s victory adds to her impressive track record, having 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 began with a first-place finish in Ekiti State and a second-place performance at the national finals in Port Harcourt.

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Nigeria’s consistent success at the African Spelling Bee continues to highlight the country’s growing dominance in academic competitions across the continent.