11-Year-Old Nigerian Girl Wins First US-Affiliated Spelling Bee in Nigeria, Set to Represent Country for the First Time at World Tournament

Amazing-Grace Salami, an 11-year-old student from Greenpath Preparatory School in Abuja, has emerged as the national champion of the inaugural Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN), a competition affiliated with the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States.

According to a statement released by the US Consulate in Lagos, the grand finale took place on Friday at the residence of the US consul general. After multiple intense rounds, Salami claimed victory by correctly spelling the word “melange.” Her win secures her an all-expense-paid trip to represent Nigeria—*for the first time ever*—at the 100th edition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States.

The competition, which began in September 2024, marked the first time the US-hosted event was brought to Nigeria. It was hosted by the US Consulate General and brought together 64 finalists from across Abuja, Lagos, Osun, and Taraba.

JoEllen Gorg, acting US consul general, noted that since its inception in 1925, the Scripps Bee has celebrated academic achievement and encouraged a love for the English language. She expressed excitement about Nigeria’s debut, joining students from all 50 US states and other countries such as Ghana, Jamaica, and Japan.

Eugenia Tachie-Menson, the event’s convener, praised the young participants and emphasized the life-changing potential of the competition, hoping it would inspire more Nigerian students to strive for excellence on the global stage.