Four Nigerian secondary school students will compete at the Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China, marking the country’s first-ever appearance at the global academic competition. The Nigeria Spelling Bee confirmed the team’s qualification in a statement released Friday, calling it a historic milestone for the country.
The four students are Oluwadamilola Adeolu of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti; Abdurrahman Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin; Chinedu Okediachi of Madonna International Schools, Asaba; and Maryam Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin. The competition runs from July 10 to 20 at a venue in Shanghai.
Team Nigeria’s Road to the Spelling Bee World Cup
The four students earned their places on the global stage by progressing through two tiers of competition, the national championship and the African Spelling Bee Championship held in Harare, Zimbabwe. Nigeria finished as the second-best overall team at the continental event, a result the organizers cited as evidence of the country’s growing strength in spelling competition.
Adeolu, 14, won the Junior category at the African championship, outspelling contestants from more than 30 African countries to claim the top spot. Her teammate Abdurrahman Yusuf placed third in his category at the same event, with South Africa’s Ashton Singh finishing second behind Adeolu.
The Africa competition included speed rounds requiring contestants to correctly spell 20 words within one minute, as well as single-word elimination rounds. Nigeria’s performance across both formats secured the country’s qualification for Shanghai.
“For the first time ever, Nigeria will be represented at the Spelling Bee World Cup, as four outstanding young spellers prepare to compete in Shanghai, China,” the Nigeria Spelling Bee stated. “They carry with them the hopes of a nation and the pride of an entire continent.”
Adeolu’s Record in National and Continental Spelling Competitions
The Ado-Ekiti student has built a consistent record in spelling competitions over several years. She placed second at the 2023 MTN Spelling Bee and second at the 2024 Ekiti State Spelling Bee. At the 2025 African Spelling Bee, she finished fifth, and she came second at the 2025 Nigeria Spelling Bee national finals in Port Harcourt.
Her route to the African title this year began with victory at the Ekiti State Spelling Bee before she progressed to the national finals. She then carried that momentum into the continental championship in Harare.
In a video message released ahead of the tournament, Adeolu said she was focused on performing well in Shanghai. “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.
She said her goals for the trip included competing at the highest level, building her vocabulary, and returning with the trophy. “I am looking forward to the competition itself, meeting new spellers across the world, boosting my vocabulary and confidence on the global stage, and also raising the trophy and bringing it back home,” Adeolu said.
She thanked the Ekiti State governor, the Nigeria Spelling Bee organization, her parents, coaches, and teachers for supporting her journey to the international stage.
What Nigeria’s Shanghai Debut Means for Academic Competition
The Nigeria Spelling Bee said the country’s debut at the Spelling Bee World Cup reflects a wider pattern of Nigerian students advancing in international academic competitions. Details of how many countries are participating in the Shanghai event were not immediately available.
The organization did not disclose the funding arrangements for the team’s travel and accommodation in Shanghai, and the federal government had not issued a separate statement on the participation as of the time of filing this report.
All four students qualified through a structured pathway that began at the school and state levels before progressing to the national and then continental stages. The Nigeria Spelling Bee said each member of the team demonstrated excellence and determination throughout that process.
Team Nigeria’s performance in Shanghai will be the country’s first data point at the world championship level. The organizers said they expect the students to represent the country with distinction when competition gets underway.
