Nigeria has recorded a major milestone in international academic competitions after emerging with the Gold Award in the Middle School Group Category at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup held in Shanghai, China.
The victory marks the country’s debut appearance at the global championship, where Team Nigeria competed against some of the world’s best young spellers.
The Nigeria Spelling Bee announced the achievement on its official Facebook page on Sunday, describing the victory as a historic moment for the country.
Among the winning team were Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, whose school also celebrated their medal-winning performances.
In a statement, the school congratulated the two students for their outstanding achievement, noting that they distinguished themselves on the global stage after months of preparation.
The Nigerian delegation also included Oluwadamilola Adeolu of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti, who won the 2026 African Spelling Bee Junior Championship, and Chinedu Okediachi of Madonna International Schools, Asaba.
The quartet secured Nigeria’s place at the World Cup after progressing through the Nigeria Spelling Bee and the African Spelling Bee Championship held in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Before the competition, organisers described the team’s participation as a landmark achievement, noting that the students would be representing not only Nigeria but the African continent at the international event.
Adeolu had expressed optimism ahead of the championship, saying she looked forward to competing against top young spellers from across the world, expanding her vocabulary and bringing the trophy home for Nigeria.
The Spelling Bee World Cup, held from July 10 to 20 in Shanghai, brought together outstanding young spellers from different countries to compete in individual and team categories. Nigeria’s gold medal is expected to boost the country’s profile in global academic competitions and inspire more young learners to pursue excellence beyond the classroom.
