Spelling for Excellence: Nigerian Spelling Bee Takes on Digital Age Challenges
By Matthew Eloyi
The 8th edition of the Nigerian Spelling Bee kicked off on Wednesday in Abuja, with organisers highlighting the competition’s critical role in sharpening children’s spelling skills amid an era of increasing digital shorthand and abbreviations.
At the finals, National Coordinator of the Nigerian Spelling Bee, Mr Abdulsalam Ibrahim, voiced concern about declining spelling proficiency among students, attributing the trend to excessive reliance on technology.
“Today, we realise that many children, because of technology, cannot spell properly. They abbreviate words, and that was why we introduced this competition,” he said.
Ibrahim stressed that the initiative is making a tangible impact, noting that more than 20 past winners are currently excelling in their academic pursuits.
“Even when they get to university, they are doing well. Most of our scholarship recipients, at least 90 to 95 per cent of them are in first class,” he revealed.
The competition not only promotes literacy but also rewards academic excellence. According to Ibrahim, the senior category champion receives a scholarship of N1 million, the first runner-up N500,000, and the second runner-up N300,000. In the junior category, the winner is awarded N500,000, while both runners-up each get N300,000.
Despite the programme’s achievements, he lamented the lack of sponsorship and described it as a significant obstacle to expanding its reach.
“We’re calling on the public, especially corporate organisations, to assist us. Since the federal government has endorsed the programme, we are hopeful they will take further steps and begin to fund it,” he appealed.
Ibrahim disclosed that although the Federal Ministry of Education has officially endorsed the competition, no financial support has been extended so far. He added that outreach efforts to corporate bodies have also yielded little response.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Spelling Bee, now in its seventh year, continues to open academic doors for young Nigerians and foster proficiency in English.
Meanwhile, Nigeria is set to host the 8th African Spelling Bee (ASB) from April 9 to 13 — marking the first time the continental championship will be held in a West African country.
Established in 2016, the ASB has previously been hosted by South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi. This year’s edition is being organised by the Bee Spelling Competition Initiative, which also spearheads the national event and conducts spelling contests across Nigeria’s 36 states.
As the Local Organising Committee, the Nigerian Spelling Bee team is aiming to make history while reinforcing the value of correct spelling in a digital world.
