A Nigerian student, Oluwadamilola Adeolu, has emerged as champion of the junior category at the 2026 African Spelling Bee, leading a strong showing by Nigeria at the continental competition.
Adeolu, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College in Ado-Ekiti, clinched first place after navigating a series of elimination rounds at the competition, which brought together top young spellers from more than 30 African countries.
Fellow Nigerian Abdurrahman Yusuf secured third place in the same category, while South Africa’s Ashton Singh finished second.
Adeolu’s victory highlights Nigeria’s continued dominance in the competition, with the country’s team also finishing as the second-best overall at the event.
The African Spelling Bee, held in Harare, featured multiple rounds, including a speed challenge requiring contestants to spell 20 words within one minute, alongside traditional elimination stages.
Nigeria’s representatives were selected through a nationwide process organized by the Nigeria Spelling Bee, which identifies top performers from grassroots competitions to represent the country at the continental level.
Organisers say the competition continues to promote literacy and academic excellence among young Africans, while providing a platform for students to compete and build confidence across borders.