Fourteen-year-old Adeolu Oluwadamilola Ooreofe emerged the winner of the 2026 African Spelling Bee in the Junior Category, bringing pride to Ekiti State and Nigeria after a remarkable performance at the continental competition held in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Adeolu, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado Ekiti, defeated contestants from more than 20 African countries to clinch the coveted title, capping years of steady academic and spelling excellence.
Her latest triumph follows an impressive run in previous competitions. She placed second in the 2023 MTN Spelling Bee, came second in the 2024 Ekiti State Spelling Bee, finished fifth in the 2025 African Spelling Bee, and also secured second place in the 2025 Nigeria Spelling Bee.
Before her continental victory, Adeolu had first excelled at the Ekiti State qualifiers and later finished second at the national competition held in Port Harcourt, earning her place on the African stage.
Described as poised, intelligent and focused, the young champion has been praised for her discipline and consistency, qualities that ultimately propelled her to the top at the prestigious event.
As the newly crowned African Junior Champion, Adeolu was awarded a $5,000 educational scholarship and will go on to represent Africa at the World Spelling Bee scheduled to hold in China later this year.
Her achievement has been widely celebrated as a major milestone for Ekiti State, with commendations also going to her family and teachers for the support and guidance that helped shape her success.
The feat has also been seen as a reflection of Ekiti State’s continued investment in education and youth development, reinforcing its reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading centres of academic excellence.
