The 2022 Nigeria’s Best Spellers

Divine C. Agbo of Intimacy With Christ Int’l School Mararaba and Chukwuemeka Onwelikwu of Lumen Christi Int’l High School Uromi have emerged the Best Junior & Senior Spellers in Nigeria at the just concluded National Grand Finale of the Nigeria Spelling Bee which held from the 3^rd to 7^th of August 2022 at Divine Rays British Schools Obosi, Anambra State. These Spellers have won themselves N1,000,000 & N500,000 Scholarships for the Senior and Junior Champions respectively.

The competition was conducted by the Bee Spelling Competition Initiative, an NGO endorsed by the National Senior Secondary Education Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education to conduct the competition nationally and send representatives to international literary contests such as the 2022 African Spelling Bee holding in Blantyre, Malawi from 6^th – 11^th December 2022.

The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) was represented by Deputy Director Amudipe FAO (Mrs) and Assistant Director, Hajia Binta Junaid of the Senior Education Department.

In an address by the Executive Secretary of NSSEC delivered by Deputy Director Amudipe FOA (Mrs), the commission, saddled with the responsibility of prescribing the National Minimum Standard, Promoting and Regulating Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria, declared that they are making frantic efforts to ensure quality education across the length and breadth of the country. To this effect, the commission expressed its readiness to work with the Nigeria Spelling Bee to promote literacy among Nigerian learners.

Coming in at a close 1^st Runner-up in the senior category is Vincent Chukwudumebi of Charles Dale Memorial Int’l School, Rivers State, while the Junior 1^st Runner-up is Jesutolola Ola-Israel of Jesuit Memorial College, Rivers State. They have won scholarships worth N500,000 and N300,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, Ugochi Okoli of Spring of Life Int’l School Enugu and Margaret-Mary Adaeze of Holy Rosary Girl’s College Nsugbe, Anambra State emerged 2^nd Runners-up in the Senior and Junior categories respectively. They earned themselves N300,000 and N200,000 scholarships.

As part of activities for the National Finals, spellers wrote two different essays on various topics and were graded to get the best essayist. Alvin Dan of Kids Window High School Gombe stands as the Best Junior Essayist while Chidozie Henry Chuwa of Lumen Christi Int’l High School Edo is the Best Senior Essayist.

In addition to their National Prizes, these spellers have won an opportunity to represent Nigeria at the African Spelling Bee competition in Malawi.

This season’s National Finals was hosted by Divine Rays British School Obosi – Onitsha, Anambra State. The Nigeria Spelling Bee expresses its highest appreciation to the host school, its Director, Rev. Fr. Emmanual Obimma, The Principal, Mrs Stephanie and her entire staff for providing a welcoming environment for spellers, irrespective of their class, religion and ethnicity.

The organisers of the competition also wish to thank all schools, teachers and parents who participated in the 2022 Season, even as we wish to inform the general public that registration for the 2023 Season of Nigeria Spelling Bee will commence on the 15^th of August. The competition will resume in the 1st term of the 2022/2023 Academic Session.