12-year-old Daniel Emerged Winner Of MTN Spelling Bee

12-year-old Daniel Emerged Winner Of MTN Spelling Bee

Twelve-year-old Daniel Nkanu from Intimacy with Christ International, Nasarawa, has emerged as the winner of the 2023 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee competition. This competition, aimed at promoting academic growth and self-improvement, is open to students between the ages of 9 and 15 in primary and secondary schools.

Over 30,000 students participated in the competition, which began in August 2023.

In the finale held at the MTN Head Office in Ikoyi, Lagos State, Daniel showcased his exceptional spelling skills by correctly spelling eight words. He faced tough competition from 11-year-old Oluwadamilola Adeolu, but ultimately emerged victorious.

As the winner, Daniel will have the opportunity to serve as the CEO of MTN Nigeria for a day and become the face of mPulse for a year.

During the event, Obiageli Ugboma, the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer of MTN Nigeria, congratulated all the finalists for their outstanding performances.

Ugboma, who reiterated MTN’s commitment to promoting digital literacy in Nigeria, said, “The mPulse Spelling Bee Competition is a platform that empowers young Nigerians to become great spellers, and public speakers and attain their full potential. As the next set of frontrunners from this initiative, we are proud of your brilliance and excited about the impact you will have on other young ones.

“It is our hope to see you thrive individually and contribute collectively to the growth of Nigeria and the broader African development story.”

In recognition of his achievement, Daniel will be awarded a N2.5m scholarship grant, along with a laptop, smartphone, and an MTN goody bag. Additionally, his school will receive cutting-edge ICT devices including 10 laptops and 10 Hynet Modems. Furthermore, Daniel’s spelling coach/teacher will receive a cash prize of N500,000.

Expressing his joy and sense of accomplishment, an elated Daniel described the experience as a “dream come true” and expressed gratitude for the opportunity.

Alongside Daniel, the first and second runners-up, Oluwadamilola Adeolu and Ajibola Flourish, both from St Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado Ekiti, as well as other finalists, will also receive prizes totaling over N10m and numerous goody bags.