Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori awarded spelling bee world champion Great Chinedu Okediachi N20m after his 2026 World Spelling Bee Championship win in Shanghai, China.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Friday rewarded Great Chinedu Okediachi with N20 million for winning the 2026 World Spelling Bee Championship in the Middle School Category, held in Shanghai, China, citing the achievement as evidence of the state’s investment in education.
A statement by Chief Press Secretary Festus Ahon disclosed that the governor announced the cash reward at Government House in Asaba while receiving the championship trophy from the student, alongside officials of the Ministry of Secondary Education.
Okediachi is a student of Madonna International School, Asaba, and returned to the state with both the Spelling Bee World Cup trophy and a certificate of achievement following his triumph at the Shanghai competition.
Oborevwori also pledged state support for Madonna International School. The governor stated the government would extend support to the institution in recognition of its contribution to the student’s achievement. No further details on the nature or value of that support were provided in the statement.
Oborevwori told the gathering that the feat demonstrated the impact of the state’s investment in education, a sector he described as one the government takes with full seriousness. He delivered those remarks directly at the Government House reception.
“We don’t play with education in Delta State because it is the greatest legacy anyone can give to a child,” Oborevwori stated, adding that wealth could disappear while education remained with a person throughout their lifetime, which was why the state continued to invest heavily in the sector.
The governor recalled that students from Delta State were part of Nigeria’s winning team at the World Schools Debate Championship held in Doha, Qatar, the previous year, saying the spelling bee victory extended that record into 2026.
“Last year, Nigeria, precisely Delta State, won the world debate championship in Doha, and today Master Great Chinedu Okediachi has brought the World Spelling Bee Cup from China to Delta State,” Oborevwori stated, describing the back-to-back international victories as confirmation that the state’s spending on education was producing results.
The governor also praised the student’s parents for their role in his success, telling the reception they deserved recognition for raising a child who had brought honor to both the state and Nigeria. No names for the parents were provided in the statement.
Commissioner for Secondary Education Dr. Kingsley Ashibuogwu described the victory as a landmark achievement for Delta State, Nigeria, and Africa, stating that the championship trophy had returned to the continent through Okediachi’s performance in China.
Ashibuogwu attributed the outcome to the student’s personal efforts and the backing he received from state authorities throughout the competition period. “Your encouragement, constant follow-up, prayers, and financial support played a significant role in this success. Today, the trophy is back in Africa, back in Nigeria, and now proudly in Delta State,” he stated at the reception.
Okediachi responded at the reception by thanking the governor for the honor and pledging to continue striving for academic excellence while bringing more international recognition to Delta State and Nigeria. He did not provide further detail on future competition plans.
The N20 million reward from the governor came days after the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), awarded the young champion a full university scholarship in recognition of his achievement at the World Spelling Bee Championship in China.
That full scholarship, covering Okediachi’s university education, was awarded by the Asagba of Asaba and stands as a separate recognition from the governor’s cash reward announced Friday in Asaba.
The 2026 World Spelling Bee Championship, won by Okediachi in the Middle School Category, positions Delta State at the center of Nigeria’s growing record in international academic competitions, with back-to-back titles in debate and spelling bee claimed within two years.
