An 11-year-old student, Amazing-Grace Salami, has emerged as the champion of the inaugural Spelling Bee in Nigeria (SpIN) competition, securing her place on the global stage.
Salami, a student of Greenspill International School, Abuja, outshone 63 other finalists from both Nigeria and the United States to clinch the top prize at the event, which was held in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday.
The Acting U.S. Consul General, JoEllen Gorg, who announced the results at the 2025 Grand Finale, revealed that Salami would represent Nigeria at the centennial edition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
“The second runner-up was Miss Ifeoluwapo Okuboyejo, while the third runner-up was Miss Naomi Ociuco,” Gorg stated.
As part of her prize, Salami will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the United States, $500 spending money, a gold medal, an engraved trophy, Indomie products, and a one-year Merriam-Webster dictionary subscription worth $10,000.
The Acting Consul General highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s participation in the globally renowned competition, describing spelling as a valuable skill that promotes learning and academic excellence.
“Although this is Nigeria’s first edition, in the United States, we have celebrated 100 years of spelling excellence. It is an honour to welcome Nigeria,” she said.
She also praised Salami’s name, Amazing-Grace, noting that it symbolised unity, peace, and prosperity between Nigeria and the U.S.
The convener of the competition, Eugenia Tachie-Menson, commended the contestants for their brilliance, stating that their skills extended beyond memorising words to mastering the fundamentals of the English language.
“They have learned to analyse word structures, recall roots and origins, and apply linguistic knowledge across various academic disciplines,” she said.
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Corrie Loeffler, lauded the growing impact of the competition, while the CEO of the American Business Council in Nigeria, Margaret Olele, emphasised the importance of investing in young talents.
Salami’s mother, Kemi Salami, expressed pride in her daughter’s determination, noting that she worked hard to prepare for the competition despite her upcoming school exams.
In her victory speech, Salami thanked the organisers and pledged to make Nigeria proud at the international stage.
“I will work even harder to ensure I represent Nigeria well at the global competition,” she said.
The SpIN competition, which began in August 2024 with 200 students from 15 schools across Nigeria, is affiliated with the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee, which has been in existence since 1925.
