President Bola Tinubu has congratulated 14-year-old Adeolu Oluwadamilola Oreofe, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado Ekiti, for winning the Junior Category of the 2026 African Spelling Bee Championship held in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Oreofe emerged winner after competing against contestants from over 20 African countries, securing a $5,000 educational scholarship and marking a major continental achievement for Nigeria in academic competition.
Her victory is seen as a breakthrough after several near-successes, having placed second in the 2023 MTN Spelling Bee, second in the 2025 Nigeria Spelling Bee, fifth in the 2025 African Spelling Bee, and second in the 2024 Ekiti State Spelling Bee.
In a statement issued by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu praised her resilience and said the achievement highlights the importance of sustained investment in education, literacy, and youth development, while crediting her parents, teachers, and mentors for their support.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s education sector and creating opportunities for young people to compete globally, wishing Oreofe continued success in her future academic pursuits.
