Nigerian students win Gold at spelling bee World Cup in China

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Nigerian students win Gold at spelling bee World Cup in China

Published on

July 20, 2026

Gong

Team Nigeria celebrates after winning the Gold Award in the Middle School Group category at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China.

Nigeria has secured a historic victory at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China, with Team Nigeria winning the Gold Award in the Middle School Group Category.

The achievement was announced by the Nigeria Spelling Bee on its official Facebook page on Sunday and confirmed by Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, whose students Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf also returned home with medals from the global competition.

According to Punch Newspapers, the victory marks a landmark moment for Nigeria, which made its first-ever appearance at the Spelling Bee World Cup after qualifying through the Nigeria Spelling Bee and the African Spelling Bee Championship.

The four-member Nigerian team comprised Oluwadamilola Adeolu of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti, Abdurrahman Yusuf and Maryam Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, and Chinedu Okediachi of Madonna International Schools, Asaba.

Before the competition, the Nigeria Spelling Bee described the team’s journey as one built on excellence and determination, progressing from the national competition to the African Spelling Bee Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, before earning a place on the world stage.

The organisers said the students represented not only Nigeria but the entire African continent as they competed against some of the world’s best young spellers.

Ahead of the tournament, Adeolu expressed excitement about representing Nigeria, saying she looked forward to competing internationally, expanding her vocabulary, building confidence and bringing the trophy home.

Adeolu qualified for the World Cup after winning the Junior category at the African Spelling Bee Championship in Harare, where she outperformed contestants from more than 30 African countries. Abdurrahman Yusuf finished third at the continental event, while Nigeria emerged as the second-best overall team.

The latest triumph in Shanghai further strengthens Nigeria’s growing reputation in international spelling competitions and highlights the country’s rising academic excellence on the global stage.

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