The 8th edition of the Nigerian Spelling Bee began on Wednesday in Abuja, with organisers emphasising the competition’s role in enhancing children’s spelling abilities amid growing dependence on digital communication.
Speaking during the finals, Mr Abdulsalam Ibrahim, National Coordinator of the Nigerian Spelling Bee, expressed concern over the growing trend of poor spelling among students due to the widespread use of shorthand in 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 explained.
Ibrahim noted that the initiative has had a measurable impact, with over 20 previous winners now excelling academically.
“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 said.
According to him, the competition also rewards excellence through scholarship awards, in addition to promoting literacy
“Yes, we give scholarships, the senior category champion receives one million naira; the first runner-up gets N500,000, and the second runner-up, N300,000.
“For the junior category, the winner gets N500,000, while both runners-up receive N300,000 each,” he confirmed.
He added that in spite the programme’s success, it has yet to attract sponsorship, noting that they currently have no partners and describing this as a major challenge.
He explained that, although they had reached out to numerous corporate organisations, there had been no response.
The national coordinator further stated that while the Federal Ministry of Education has endorsed the programme, it has not provided any financial support.
He appealed to stakeholders, particularly in the private sector, to support the initiative.
“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 added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition, now in its seventh year, continues to create academic opportunities for young Nigerians while encouraging proficiency in English.
Recall that Nigeria is hosting the 8th African Spelling Bee (ASB) from April 9 to 13, the first time the continental competition will take place in a West African country.
The ASB, established in 2016, has previously been hosted by South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi.
The Nigerian Spelling Bee, under the Bee Spelling Competition Initiative, is serving as the Local Organising Committee for this year’s event.
The organisation conducts spelling contests across all 36 states and represents Nigeria at international competitions, including the ASB. (NAN)
