Nigeria has made history on the global academic stage after Team Nigeria won the Gold Award in the Middle School Group Category at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup held in Shanghai, China.

The victorious team, Oluwadamilola Adeolu, Abdurrahman Yusuf, Chinedu Okediachi, and Maryam Yusuf—secured the prestigious title after emerging from a highly competitive field of young spellers from around the world.

The quartet qualified for the global championship following their outstanding performances at the Nigeria Spelling Bee and the African Spelling Bee Championship, earning the opportunity to represent the country on the international stage.

Adding to Nigeria’s impressive outing, Maryam Yusuf and Abdurrahman Yusuf, both students of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, also received individual medals for their exceptional performances during the competition.

The victory is particularly significant as it marks Nigeria’s first-ever participation at the Spelling Bee World Cup, making the gold medal an even more remarkable achievement.

Competing against some of the brightest young minds from across the globe, Team Nigeria displayed exceptional brilliance, confidence and teamwork to emerge champions, bringing international recognition to the country’s educational community.

The achievement has been widely celebrated by Nigerians, with many describing the victory as a testament to the intelligence, resilience and limitless potential of Nigerian students when given the opportunity to compete on the global stage.

The historic triumph also reinforces Nigeria’s growing reputation for academic excellence in international competitions and serves as an inspiration to young learners across the country.

Congratulations to Team Nigeria on an outstanding achievement that has made the nation proud.