Four outstanding Nigerian students are set to make history as the country makes its debut appearance at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China.
The competition, scheduled to hold from July 10 to 20, will feature some of the world’s brightest young spellers, with Team Nigeria earning qualification through the Nigerian and African Spelling Bee championships.
The Nigerian representatives 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.
In a statement announcing the milestone, the Nigeria Spelling Bee described the country’s participation as a historic achievement.
According to the organisers, the four students have demonstrated exceptional excellence and determination, progressing from the national stage to continental competition before earning a place on the global platform.
The organisers noted that the team would not only represent Nigeria but also carry Africa’s hopes into the international competition.
One of the team members, 14-year-old Oluwadamilola Adeolu, expressed excitement ahead of the tournament, saying she looked forward to competing with top young spellers from around the world while improving her vocabulary and confidence.
She also thanked the Nigerian Spelling Bee organisers, the Ekiti State Government, her parents, teachers and coaches for supporting her journey to the global stage.
Adeolu recently emerged champion of the Junior Category at the African Spelling Bee Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, where she outperformed contestants from more than 30 African countries. Fellow Nigerian contestant, Abdurrahman Yusuf, finished third in the competition.
Nigeria also emerged as the second-best overall team at the continental championship, further cementing its growing reputation in international spelling competitions.
Before her African triumph, Adeolu finished second at the 2023 MTN Spelling Bee, placed second at the 2024 Ekiti State Spelling Bee, finished fifth at the 2025 African Spelling Bee and emerged runner-up at the 2025 Nigeria Spelling Bee.
The organisers expressed confidence that Team Nigeria would make the country proud as it competes against the world’s finest young spellers in Shanghai.
