Nigeria Spellers for African Spelling Bee (Zimbabwe) 2026

Nigeria’s young spelling champions are set to represent the country at the 2026 African Spelling Bee Championship in Zimbabwe. The continental contest will hold from 18 March to 21 March 2026; five students will carry the Nigerian flag.

The pupils emerged after a strict selection process through the Nigeria Spelling Bee, the official Nigerian member organisation of the African Spelling Bee. For these students, the stage is Continental, the task is clear, and the expectations are high.

The five students representing Nigeria

The spellers selected to represent Nigeria are:

Yusuf Abdurrahman Olamide – Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin

Adeolu Damilola – St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti

Idoghor Oghenetano – Mountain Top Schools, Lagos

Yusuf Maryam Ayomide – Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin

Okediachi Chinedu Great – Madonna International Schools, Asaba

Travel date for Team Nigeria

The Nigerian delegation will depart from Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on 17 March 2026. The team will return on 22 March 2026 after the championship ends.

What the National Coordinator said

Speaking ahead of the team’s departure, the National Coordinator of the Nigeria Spelling Bee, Mr Abdulsalam Ibrahim, said the students are taking part largely through personal and organisational sacrifice.

“These young champions are representing Nigeria largely out of pocket, driven by passion, commitment, and the desire to make the country proud,” he said.

He also called for stronger support for education-based programmes that help pupils grow in learning and character.

“Investing in educational programmes like spelling competitions is an investment in the future leaders of Nigeria and Africa,” he added.

Nigeria’s record at the African Spelling Bee

Nigeria has built a strong record at the African Spelling Bee since joining the contest. Over the past eight years, Nigerian spellers have won multiple championship titles in both the Junior and Senior categories.

The country has also recorded several 1st Runner-Up and 2nd Runner-Up finishes. On top of that, Nigeria received the Best Spelling Bee Country Award, a mark of the nation’s steady performance in the competition.

That record gives this year’s team a clear backdrop; Nigeria is not entering the contest as a stranger.

How spellers qualify for the African Spelling Bee

Only the country’s strongest spellers qualify for the African Spelling Bee. Each contestant must first win at the state level, then go on to represent that state at the National Finals of the Nigeria Spelling Bee.

The path starts from the local stage, where pupils across Nigeria register through the official Nigeria Spelling Bee platform. From there, they move through state and national rounds of the contest.

Endorsement and national backing

The Nigeria Spelling Bee is endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Senior Secondary Education Commission. That backing reflects its place as a national academic programme focused on literacy, vocabulary growth, and intellectual excellence among Nigerian students.

Final word on Team Nigeria’s trip

There is clear optimism around the team as it prepares for Zimbabwe. With a proven national record behind them, Nigeria’s five young spellers will step into the 2026 African Spelling Bee Championship ready to compete with some of Africa’s best.

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Meet The Author

This post is authored by Olusegun Fapohunda, the founder and editor of MySchoolGist.

Boasting over a decade of expertise in the education sector, Olusegun offers current insights into educational trends, career opportunities, and the latest news.

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