History was made on Friday, March 14, 2025, as Amazing-Grace Ahuoyiza Ebiebi Salami, an 11-year-old from Greenpath Preparatory School, Abuja, clinched the title of Nigeria’s first-ever Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN) National Champion. The grand finale, held at the U.S. Consul General’s residence in Lagos, saw 64 exceptional finalists from Abuja, Lagos, Osun, and Taraba States compete in a thrilling display of linguistic mastery and academic excellence.

The event showcased the incredible talent and determination of Nigeria’s brightest young minds, as they battled through intense rounds of spelling challenges. The atmosphere was electric, with attendees including members of the diplomatic corps, C-Suite executives, parents and educational leaders, all witnessing the birth of a new academic tradition in Nigeria.  

The competition, which began in September with hundreds of participants across Nigeria, culminated in a fiercely contested finale. After hours of grueling rounds, Amazing-Grace Ahuoyiza impressed the audience and judges by correctly spelling the winning word, “Melange” to claim the championship title. As the winner, she will receive an all-expense-paid trip to represent Nigeria at the 100th edition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States, a historic centennial celebration of academic excellence.

Delivering remarks at the inaugural spelling competition, Acting U.S. Consul General JoEllen Gorg highlighted the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the United States’ first national spelling bee.      

“On behalf of the United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, it’s an honor to host the inaugural Spellingbee In Nigeria finals as we mark the 100th anniversary of the United States’ first national spelling bee. 

Since 1925, the Scripps Spelling Bee has showcased American academic excellence, while promoting literacy and a love of the English language among youth. We are very excited this year will also mark Nigeria’s first entrance into the competition, alongside students from all 50 United States and international students from Ghana, Jamaica, Japan, and beyond.”

Speaking at the event, Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Convener of Spellingbee In Nigeria, expressed her pride in the participants and the transformative impact of the competition. “This is more than just a spelling competition, it’s a platform that builds confidence, public speaking skills and critical thinking in our young learners. Today, we have not only unearthed champions but also inspired a generation of Nigerian students to aim for global excellence. We are grateful to our partners, parents as well as schools for making this dream a reality.”

The event also featured a special virtual appearance by Harini Logan, the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion. She shared her journey of resilience, offering heartfelt encouragement to the finalists and emphasizing the power of preparation, confidence, and perseverance. Though unable to attend in person, her words resonated deeply, leaving a lasting impact on the spellers and making the day even more memorable.

Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN) is a prestigious competition affiliated with the globally renowned Scripps National Spelling Bee, USA. It teaches students the rudiments of spelling, vocabulary development and critical thinking among Nigerian students, equipping them with the skills to compete on a global stage.

The success of the SpIN National Finals was made possible through the support of key partners: Indomie Noodles (Title Sponsor), Checkers Custard (Co-Sponsor), Lucid Education Initiative (Local Organizing Partner), the U.S. Consulate General Lagos, the American Business Council of Nigeria, the Rotary Club of VI East, Razzl, First Bank of Nigeria, Seven-Up Bottling Company and AT3 Resources – The Muvmnt Agency (PR Partner).

As Nigeria celebrates its first-ever Spellingbee in Nigeria, the future of academic excellence and global competitiveness looks brighter than ever.

Photo Captions:

Photo 001: Amazing-Grace Ahuoyiza Ebiebi Salami, 11-year-old Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN) Champion and Acting U.S. Consul General JoEllen Gorg, during the prize presentation at the Inaugural National Finals in Nigeria.

Photo 002: (L-R) Naomi Ogiugo of The Lagoon School (2nd runner up); Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN) National Champion Amazing-Grace Ahuoyiza Ebiebi Salami of Greenpath Preparatory School; and Claire Ifeoluwa Okuboyejo of Bridging Gaps Centre (1st runner up).

Photo 003: Veteran actress, Joke Silva presenting The Black Drone Award for outstanding vocabulary performance to a speller at the Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN) National Finals.

Photo 004: Cross section of young spellers at the Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN) National Finals.