Team Nigeria has won the Gold Award in the Middle School Group category at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup held in Shanghai, China, marking a historic achievement for the country’s young spellers on their debut appearance at the global competition.
The victory was announced by the Nigeria Spelling Bee on its official Facebook page on Sunday.
“Team Nigeria has won the Gold Award in the Middle School Group Category at the Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China,” the organisation stated.
Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, also confirmed that two of its students, Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf, secured medals during the competition.
The school congratulated the students in a statement, saying, “Ar-Raheem International College students Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf won medals at the Spelling Bee World Cup final in Shanghai, China 2026.”
Nigeria made its first-ever appearance at the Spelling Bee World Cup after qualifying through the Nigeria Spelling Bee and the African Spelling Bee Championship.
The four-member team comprised 2026 African Spelling Bee Junior champion, Oluwadamilola Adeolu of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti; Abdurrahman Yusuf and Maryam Yusuf of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin; and Chinedu Okediachi of Madonna International Schools, Asaba.
Before the competition, the Nigeria Spelling Bee described the team’s qualification as a milestone for the country and the continent.
“For the first time ever, Nigeria will be represented at the Spelling Bee World Cup, as four outstanding young spellers prepare to compete in Shanghai, China, from July 10 to July 20, 2026,” the organisation had said.
It added that the students were carrying the hopes of Nigeria and Africa as they competed against some of the world’s best young spellers.
“As they compete against the world’s finest young spellers, they carry with them the hopes of a nation and the pride of an entire continent,” the organisers said.
Ahead of the tournament, Adeolu expressed optimism about Nigeria’s chances, saying she looked forward to competing on the global stage, expanding her vocabulary, building confidence and bringing the trophy home.
“I am proud to be part of the Nigerian Spelling Bee and African Spelling Bee delegation travelling to the Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China, to represent Nigeria,” she said before the event.
Adeolu earned her place at the World Cup after emerging champion in the Junior category at the African Spelling Bee Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, where she outperformed contestants from more than 30 African countries.
At the same continental championship, Abdurrahman Yusuf finished third, while Team Nigeria emerged as the second-best overall team, laying the foundation for the country’s successful outing at the World Cup.