President Bola Tinubu has congratulated a 14-year-old student, Adeolu Oluwadamilola Oreofe, for emerging as the 2026 African Spelling Bee champion.

Ms Oreofe clinched the continental crown in the junior category of the competition and won a $ 5,000 educational scholarship.  

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the special adviser to the president, Bayo Onanuga, Ms Oreofe, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College in Ado Ekiti, outperformed contestants from more than 20 African countries in a competition held in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Mr Tinubu said the student’s outstanding achievement was proof of “sustained investment in education, literacy and youth development”.

The president commended Ms Oreofe’s commitment to excellence and acknowledged the support of parents, teachers and mentors who played key roles in making the victory possible.

“I am convinced that this feat not only brings honour to Nigeria on the continental stage but also serves as an inspiration to millions of young Nigerians to pursue excellence in academics and personal development,” Mr Tinubu said. “As a government, we will continue to strengthen the education sector by creating opportunities that enable Nigerian youths to compete and excel globally. I wish Miss Oreofe continued success in her future endeavours.”

Mr Tinubu praised the student’s determination to secure the ultimate victory despite earlier disappointments.

Before winning the first prize in the 2026 continental championship, Ms Oreofe had previously secured second position at the 2023 MTN Spelling Bee and at the 2024 Ekiti State Spelling Bee competitions.

In 2025, she finished fifth at the African Spelling Bee and was a runner-up at the Nigeria Spelling Bee.