Team Nigeria has emerged winner of 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 in the global competition.
The Nigeria Spelling Bee announced the victory on its official Facebook page on Sunday, celebrating the team’s outstanding performance. Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, also confirmed that two of its students, Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf, won medals at the tournament, describing the feat as a proud moment for the school and the nation.
The four-member Nigerian team comprised 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. The students qualified for the World Cup through the Nigeria Spelling Bee and the African Spelling Bee Championship, making Nigeria’s first-ever appearance at the global event.
Before the competition, the Nigeria Spelling Bee described the team’s participation as a landmark moment, saying the young spellers were representing not only Nigeria but the entire African continent. The organisers praised their journey from national and continental competitions to the world stage and expressed confidence in their ability to excel.
Oluwadamilola Adeolu had earlier expressed excitement about representing Nigeria in Shanghai, saying she looked forward to competing with the world’s best young spellers, expanding her vocabulary, building confidence and bringing the trophy home. She earned her place at the World Cup after winning 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 championship, Abdurrahman Yusuf placed third, while Team Nigeria finished as the second-best overall team in Africa.
