Nigeria is set to host the 7th African Spelling Bee from April 9 to 13, marking the first time the prestigious competition will be held in a West African nation. 

Abdulsalam Ibrahim, national coordinator of the Nigeria Spelling Bee, announced this in Abuja on Monday. 

Established in 2016, the ASB has previously been hosted by South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi. 

According to Mr Ibrahim, the African Spelling Bee was founded to celebrate the African child, inspire literacy, and create a platform for connection and confidence-building among young learners. 

He stated that the competition aims to enhance literacy and academic excellence while cultivating a strong reading culture. 

The national coordinator noted that the competition also seeks to develop self-esteem and interpersonal skills while building human capital through capacity development. 

He said it also aims to promote community-based partnerships and celebrate African children’s cultural diversity and unity. 

He noted that this year’s event will bring together the top national spelling bee champions from over 20 African countries. 

They include Benin, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 

“The ASB embodies the spirit of Pan-Africanism by uniting young people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate linguistic prowess and cultural heritage. 

“Through spelling competitions, African general knowledge quizzes, and cultural exchanges, the event fosters unity and mutual respect among participants, nurturing a generation poised to lead and transform the continent,” Mr Ibrahim said. 

Mr Ibrahim highlighted Nigeria’s strong track record in the ASB, having secured multiple championship titles in previous editions. 

He also noted that Nigerian spellers are preparing to defend the Senior Championship title won by Praises Minabowa in the last African Spelling Bee, reflecting the nation’s commitment to educational excellence and youth development.