SpellingBee In Nigeria to Crown Historic National Champion

The highly anticipated SpellingBee in Nigeria (SpIN) finals will take place on February 15 at the U.S. Consul General’s residence in Lagos.

This historic event will crown Nigeria’s first-ever national spelling champion, who will represent the country at the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States.

SpIN is supported by the American Business Council, U.S. Consulate in Nigeria, Rotary Club VI East, Lucid Education Initiative, and Lagos State. It is locally sponsored by Indomie, with Checkers Custard as a co-sponsor.

Expressing excitement about the competition’s impact, Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Convener of SpellingBee in Nigeria and an affiliate of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, USA, highlighted the event’s significance in nurturing young talent.

“We are thrilled by the warm reception of SpellingBee in Nigeria among parents, students, and educators. This competition is more than just spelling—it builds confidence, public speaking skills, and deductive reasoning, preparing students for global opportunities.”

Tachie-Menson said that Spellingbee in Nigeria aims to redefine spelling competitions, moving beyond traditional memorization techniques to emphasize the development of critical thinking, language comprehension, and communication skills. 

This approach, she said, equips students with the life-skills to excel academically and professionally.

She noted that the grand finale will feature 64 exceptional students from Abuja, Taraba, Osun, and Lagos States, all vying for the historic opportunity to become Nigeria’s first representative at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May 2025. 

This marks Nigeria’s debut in the prestigious competition’s 100-year history, making it only the second African country, after Ghana, to participate at this level.

She added: “The national champion will win an all-expense-paid trip to the United States to compete on the global stage, proudly flying Nigeria’s flag among the world’s best young spellers. The initiative has garnered widespread support from private school owners, parents, and key education stakeholders, who recognize its role in promoting academic excellence and literacy development”.

The finals will be an exclusive, invitation-only event, attended by members of the diplomatic community, education leaders, corporate executives, and media representatives. However, parents, educators, and the public are encouraged to join in celebrating and supporting these young scholars as they make history.