A 14-year-old Nigerian student, Oluwadamilola Adeolu, has won the Junior category of the 2026 African Spelling Bee competition held in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Adeolu, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti, claimed the top prize after defeating contestants from over 30 African countries at the continental event.
The development was announced on the website of 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 statement read.
In the same category, Abdurrahman Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, finished third, while South Africa’s Ashton Singh placed second.
The organisers also stated that Nigeria ranked second overall in the team standings, reflecting the country’s strong 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,” it added.
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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 where contestants were required to spell 20 words within one minute, alongside single-word elimination rounds.
Adeolu’s latest win adds to her record of academic excellence.
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 in Ekiti State, followed by a second-place performance at the national finals in Port Harcourt.
Nigeria’s victory extends its strong track record at the African Spelling Bee, with representatives securing multiple titles in both junior and senior categories over the years.