Team Nigeria has won the Gold Award in the Middle School Group Category at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China, marking a historic achievement for the country’s young academic talents.
The victory was announced by the Nigeria Spelling Bee, which confirmed that the Nigerian team emerged champions in the international competition featuring some of the world’s best young spellers.
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The Nigerian Students Spelling Bee Gold success came during Nigeria’s first-ever appearance at the global event after the team qualified through the Nigeria Spelling Bee and the African Spelling Bee Championship.
The four-member Nigerian delegation comprised Oluwadamilola Adeolu of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti; Abdurrahman Yusuf and Maryam Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin; and Chinedu Okediachi of Madonna International Schools, Asaba.
The achievement was also celebrated by Ar-Raheem International College, which confirmed that its students Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf won medals at the competition.
“Team Nigeria has won the Gold Award in the Middle School Group Category at the Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China,” the Nigeria Spelling Bee announced.
The competition marked a major milestone for Nigeria’s participation in global spelling contests, with the young competitors representing both their country and the African continent on an international stage.
Before the tournament, organisers described the team’s journey as one built on excellence and determination, beginning with national qualification before advancing through the African Spelling Bee Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Adeolu, who won the 2026 African Spelling Bee Junior Championship to secure her place at the World Cup, had expressed excitement about representing Nigeria internationally.
“I am proud to be part of the Nigerian Spelling Bee and African Spelling Bee delegation travelling to the Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China, to represent Nigeria,” she said before the event.
Nigeria’s strong showing at the competition continues a growing trend of success in international spelling contests.
At the African Spelling Bee Championship, Adeolu emerged champion in the Junior category, while Abdurrahman Yusuf finished third and Nigeria ranked as the second-best overall team.
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The Shanghai triumph represents a proud moment for Nigeria’s education sector and highlights the potential of young students competing on global platforms.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
