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Nigerian spellers delivered a strong result at the 8th African Spelling Bee Grand Finale held in Zimbabwe on 20 March 2026. Team Nigeria claimed the Junior Championship, took third place in the same category, and finished as the 2nd Best Country Spelling Bee Team.
The contest brought together top young spellers from across Africa. It featured a speed round where contestants had to spell 20 words in one minute; it also included several single-word elimination rounds.
Oluwadamilola Adeolu emerges junior champion
Oluwadamilola Adeolu, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti, emerged as the Junior Champion. The result gave Nigeria a major win at the continental championship.
In the same category, Abdurrahman Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, finished in third place. That result kept Nigeria firmly among the top contenders.
Nigeria places second in team ranking
Nigeria also finished as the 2nd Best Country Spelling Bee Team in the overall group ranking. The team effort matched the individual results and added another strong outing for the country on the African stage.
Other members of Team Nigeria were:
- Oghenetano Idoghor, Mountain Top Schools, Lagos
- Chinedu Okediachi, Madonna International Schools, Asaba
- Maryam Yusuf, Ar-Raheem International School, Ilorin
Observers said the Nigerian team showed courage, preparation, and team spirit throughout the contest. Judges, organisers, and participants across Africa commended the group for that display.
How the contest was decided
The 8th African Spelling Bee Grand Finale used a demanding format. Contestants faced an intense speed round, with 20 words to spell in one minute. They also went through multiple single-word elimination rounds, where one mistake could end a run; that format tested pace, accuracy, and composure.
Nigeria’s record at the African Spelling Bee
Nigeria’s 2026 result adds to an already strong record at the African Spelling Bee. Over the years, Nigerian spellers have won 22 titles, including several Junior and Senior Championship victories.
Education stakeholders linked that steady run to the Nigeria Spelling Bee programme. They said the programme helps to nurture young talent, promote literacy, and build confidence among students across the country.
How pupils reach the continental stage
The path to the African Spelling Bee starts at the grassroots level. Students across Nigeria register and compete through the Nigeria Spelling Bee platform.
Interested participants begin through the Nigeria Spelling Bee registration portal. From there, they move through state and national contests. Top performers at the national level are then selected to represent Nigeria at the continental championship.
A result that keeps attention on Team Nigeria
The organisers of the Nigeria Spelling Bee congratulated all members of Team Nigeria for their results. They described the outing as a reflection of hard work, discipline, and academic excellence.
With this latest result, Nigeria again showed its strength in African academic contests. Team Nigeria returned from Zimbabwe with titles, top placements, and a team ranking that will keep many eyes on the next set of young spellers.
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