Amazing-Grace Ahuoyiza Ebiebi Salami, an 11-year-old student from Greenpath Preparatory School, Abuja, has been crowned the National Champion of the inaugural Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN).
The grand finale, held at the U.S. Consul General’s residence in Lagos, featured 64 finalists from Abuja, Lagos, Osun, and Taraba states. The competition, which began in September with hundreds of participants, tested the contestants’ linguistic and spelling skills through intense rounds.
Salami clinched the title by correctly spelling the word “Melange.” As the champion, she will represent Nigeria at the 100th edition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States, marking the country’s debut in the prestigious competition.
Acting U.S. Consul General JoEllen Gorg expressed excitement over Nigeria’s participation, emphasizing the event’s role in promoting literacy and academic excellence. The convener of Spellingbee In Nigeria, Eugenia Tachie-Menson, highlighted the competition’s impact on confidence, public speaking, and critical thinking skills among young learners.
The event also featured a virtual address from Harini Logan, the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion, who encouraged the finalists with insights on resilience and preparation.
Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN) is affiliated with the Scripps National Spelling Bee, USA, and aims to equip Nigerian students with strong spelling and vocabulary skills. The event was supported by key sponsors, including Indomie Noodles, Checkers Custard, First Bank of Nigeria, Seven-Up Bottling Company, and the U.S. Consulate General Lagos.
With this achievement, Nigeria takes a significant step toward fostering academic excellence and preparing young learners for global competitiveness.
