Nigeria has been selected to host the 7th African Spelling Bee competition in December.

Abdulsalam Ibrahim, the national coordinator of Nigeria Spelling Bee, made this known in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Sunday.

He expressed pride in Nigeria’s rich history of spelling excellence and its dedication to nurturing young linguistic talents.

According to him, Nigeria’s selection is a recognition of the country’s commitment to promoting education and culture.

Mr Ibrahim explained that the goal of the competition was to promote literacy among students and reward learning with remarkable prizes and scholarship grants.

The spelling bee coordinator said the Federal Ministry of Education had tasked them to showcase Nigeria’s finest during the competition.

He said the association had developed a study guide to assist in mastering spelling rules and make students better spellers.

The national coordinator said mastery of spelling helps students to develop communication and public speaking skills and boost their self-esteem.

According to him, the African Spelling Bee is a prestigious international competition that unites the champions of the participating countries in the continent.

He said the previous editions of the competition were held in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi, among others. 

More than 23 African countries are expected to participate in the 7th edition of the competition in Abuja.

“With such a diverse range of participating nations, the event promises to be a melting pot of linguistic talent and cultural diversity,” Mr Ibrahim said.

The national coordinator added that it was an opportunity to celebrate the linguistic prowess of the youths and display their African identity.  

(NAN)