Young Educators Foundation Announces Nigeria and Ghana’s Participation in 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
In a groundbreaking development, the Young Educators Foundation has confirmed that Nigeria and Ghana will represent Africa at the esteemed Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States in 2025.
Eugenia Tachie-Menson, the Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, revealed this exciting news in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja. She highlighted the long-standing participation of Ghana, which has been representing the continent for nearly two decades, and welcomed Nigeria’s inclusion, facilitated by a partnership with Lucid Education Initiative.
“This collaboration is designed to ignite a passion for spelling and literacy among Nigerian youths,” Tachie-Menson stated. She emphasized that the Scripps National Spelling Bee transcends being merely a contest; it celebrates discipline, word mastery, and academic excellence. “This will not only give Nigerian students and schools global recognition but also enhance cognitive skills, critical thinking, and mental agility among young learners,” she added. “It will foster curiosity and a lifelong love for language and learning.”
The foundation is already working on a rigorous selection process to identify students who will compete at the national level for the opportunity to represent Nigeria globally. Tachie-Menson noted that the selection would initially focus on private schools before expanding to public schools. “The champion of this forthcoming spelling contest will earn a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May 2025,” she announced.
Afolajimi Akinyoyenu, Chief Executive Officer of Lucid Education Initiative, echoed these sentiments, underscoring the significance of Nigeria’s participation. “This programme provides a platform for Nigerian youths to showcase their literacy skills on a global stage,” he said. “It will challenge the outdated narrative that the African child only hungers for food, highlighting the intellectual capabilities of our young students.”
The 2024 edition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee saw participation from 245 national competitors, including schools from the U.S., Europe, Ghana, and Canada. Known for its intense mental challenge, the competition requires spellers to ask questions within 75 seconds and spell each word within 90 seconds, making it a thrilling test of knowledge and quick thinking.
