Amazing-Grace Salami, an 11-year-old from Greenpath Preparatory School, Abuja, has won the Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN), becoming the national champion.
SpIN is a competition affiliated with the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States.
A statement issued by the US Consulate in Lagos on Monday said Salami clinched her victory on Friday when the grand finale was held at the consul general’s residence.
After hours of grueling rounds, Salami impressed the judges by correctly spelling the winning word, “melange” to claim the championship title.
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As the winner, she will receive an all-expense-paid trip to represent Nigeria at the 100th edition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the US Consulate said.
The competition which began in September 2024 was hosted by the US Consulate General and was its maiden edition.
A fiercely contested competition saw 64 finalists from Abuja, Lagos, Osun, and Taraba emerge, the statement added.
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“Since 1925, the Scripps Spelling Bee has showcased American academic excellence, while promoting literacy and a love of the English language among youth,” JoEllen Gorg, acting US consul general, said.
“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.”
Eugenia Tachie-Menson, the convener, expressed her pride in the participants and the transformative impact of the competition.
Tachie-Menson said the exercise would inspire a generation of Nigerian students to aim for global excellence.
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