By Rasheed Abubakar
* School discloses trip cost as Ekiti, Delta back participants from their states
* We hope for assistance for our students to participate in Shanghai: Principal
Two outstanding students of Ar Raheem International College, Madi, Ilorin Kwara State), Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf, have been invited to represent Nigeria at the 2026 World Spelling Bee Championships scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China, with growing calls on the government, groups, and individuals to sponsor their trip.
Their selection followed an impressive performance alongside three other Nigerian students at the African Spelling Bee Competition held in March 2026 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Maryam Yusuf, a 14 year old niqab-wearing student, and her schoolmate Abdurrahman Yusuf, who is 12 years old, earned international recognition after contributing to Nigeria’s strong performance at the continental competition.
Their efforts helped Nigeria secure second position in Africa in the speed test category, with a combined score of 15.60, narrowly behind South Africa, which came first with 15.66.
Both Nigeria and South Africa will represent Africa at the global championship scheduled for July 10 to July 20, 2026.
The competition will bring together top young spellers from around the world, including participants from China, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the United States, Canada, and several other countries.
Muslim News gathered that the invitation to the world championship was extended by the organisers through the African Spelling Bee Council.
The other Nigerian students selected to represent Team Nigeria are Oluwadamilola Adeolu of St Lawrence Metropolitan College, Oghenetano Idoghor of Mountain Top Schools, and Chinedu Okediachi of Madonna International Schools.
China organisers highlight value of global participation
The organisers of the 2026 World Spelling Bee Championships said they were honoured to invite African champions from Nigeria and South Africa to participate in the competition.
In a formal communication addressed to the African Spelling Bee Council, the organisers stated that the championship is designed not only as an academic contest but also as a platform to promote cultural exchange, international friendship, and global awareness among young participants.
They added that the participation of African representatives would enrich the competition and strengthen academic collaboration among nations.
The organisers expressed optimism about hosting the African teams in China and described the forthcoming championship as a memorable and rewarding experience for all participants.
African Spelling Bee Council backs Nigeria’s participation
The African Spelling Bee Executive Council also issued a letter describing Nigeria’s selection as recognition of the team’s exceptional performance and dedication during the continental finals in Harare.
The council commended the Nigerian team for demonstrating spelling excellence and maintaining high academic standards throughout the competition.
It expressed confidence that the Nigerian representatives would continue to uphold the country’s reputation at the global level.
The council also called on the Nigeria Spelling Bee organisers, the federal and state governments, and other relevant stakeholders to provide the necessary support to ensure the students’ participation.
Muslim News gathered that some state governments, particularly Ekiti State and Delta State, have already shown support for participants from their states.
For instance, Governor Biodun Oyebanji pledged to sponsor Oluwadamilola Adeolu, alongside her mother and coach, to the world championship in China.
The governor also rewarded the student, her coach, and her school, St Lawrence Metropolitan College, with cash gifts totalling N8 million as part of efforts to encourage academic excellence.
Ar Raheem seeks support for Kwara students
The management of Ar Raheem International College in Ilorin has expressed hope that similar support will be extended to the Kwara based representatives so they can fly Nigeria’s flag at the world championship in China.
Speaking with Muslim News, the Principal of the college, Mr. Kamor Adebayo, explained that the school would need to raise 18,660 dollars to cover travel expenses for the two students and one tutor who will accompany them to China.
He said the sponsorship would cover return tickets, visa fees, and other logistics throughout their stay for the competition.
According to him, “We are to sponsor each student for the trip, costing 6,320 dollars, including return tickets, visa, and other expenses throughout their duration. We have two students from our school and one tutor, the English teacher, who will go with them, making about 18,660 dollars in sponsorship we are trying to get.”
Mr Adebayo said the school had already written to the Kwara State Government requesting support and expressed optimism that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq would respond positively.
“We do not know anyone, but we have Allah. We have written to the state government and we believe our Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is a lover of youth and education and will heed our call for sponsorship,” he said.
He added that the school was open to support from individuals, organisations, and government institutions to ensure the students participate in the global event.
“Regardless of where the sponsorship comes from, including individuals and organisations, we are open to any opportunity,” he added.
Invitation reflects academic excellence, says principal
Mr Adebayo said the invitation to the world championship reflects the school’s consistent academic excellence and active participation in spelling competitions at state, national, and continental levels.
According to him, the students’ qualification for the world championship did not come as a surprise because the school has maintained an impressive record in academic competitions over the years.
“Alhamdulillah, we thank Allah for the invitation, and it is not surprising because our students have always participated in state and national competitions which ordinarily have the trajectory of leading them to the international stage,” he said.
Mr Adebayo noted that the school’s academic excellence was also evident in the performance of its students in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examinations, adding that some students scored above 350 in the last exercise.
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