Oreofe’s victory has been described as a rare bright spot for Nigeria’s struggling education sector.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the 14-year-old Adeolu Oluwadamilola Oreofe for emerging winner of the 2026 African Spelling Bee Championship in the Junior Category, held in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Oreofe’s victory has been described as a rare bright spot for Nigeria’s struggling education sector.
Oreofe, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado Ekiti, defeated contestants from over 20 African countries to clinch the continental title, which comes with a $5,000 educational scholarship.
In a statement issued by the Presidency, Tinubu, despite Nigeria’s education system, said the feat underscored the importance of sustained investment in education, literacy, and youth development.
This is despite the fact that public schools across Nigeria have continued to grapple with underfunding, strikes, and infrastructural decay.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu commended Oreofe’s perseverance and praised the “unwavering support of parents, teachers, and mentors” who contributed to her success, noting that her journey reflected resilience and determination.
The President also highlighted that Oreofe had previously faced multiple setbacks in earlier competitions, but refused to give up.
She reportedly finished second at the 2023 MTN Spelling Bee and the 2024 Ekiti State Spelling Bee, placed fifth at the 2025 African Spelling Bee, and came second at the 2025 Nigeria Spelling Bee before finally clinching the continental crown in 2026.
“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,” 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,” the President added.
However, the congratulatory message comes amid growing public criticism over Nigeria’s deteriorating education system, with many schools battling shortages of teachers, poor facilities, and repeated disruptions.
Despite the celebratory tone from the Presidency, Nigerians believe that individual success stories like Oreofe’s continue to highlight the gap between Nigeria’s global academic potential and its domestic educational realities.
