In an interesting turn of events at the recently concluded MTN mPulse Spelling Bee competition, students, parents, and teachers were left astonished after “lightning” struck twice in the same spot. For the second year in a row, a student of Intimacy with Christ International, Daniel Victor Nkanu emerged the spelling Bee Champion following the footsteps of last year’s winner Kate Ene-David.
With an unassuming stance and a bland face that barely showed any emotion, the 12-year-old Daniel dusted off fierce competition at the grand finale of the 2023 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee competition which was held at the MTN Rooftop, MTN Headquarters, Ikoyi Lagos. The teenager from Nasarawa state edged out 19 other top finalists in a gruelling tournament that lasted close to three hours.
For the first time in history, the MTN mPulse Spelling Bee was decided in a spell-off after Daniel and 1st runner-up Adeolu Oluwadamilola correctly spelt all the words in a keenly contested championship round. At the spell-off stage, however, Daniel showed Adeolu she was no match for his spelling prowess as he spelt eight words correctly against Adeolu who could only manage to get one word in over the line.
Last year’s Spelling Bee champion and school-mate Kate Ene David, now 15 years old, was also in attendance and was very excited to place the Spelling Bee sash across Daniel’s neck after he had been duly announced as the winner by the Bee Master, Titus Bankole.
In addition to becoming MTN’s One-Day CEO, Daniel also won himself ₦2.5 million in an educational grant, a laptop, a phone and an MTN mPulse goody bag. The teenager’s efforts will also see his school, Intimacy with Christ International receive 10 laptops and 10 5G modems to further enhance digital literacy and bolster the school’s ICT laboratory.
Daniel was not the only big winner on the afternoon though. First runner-up Adeolu Oluwadamilola also won a ₦1.5 million educational grant, a laptop and a brand new phone as well. Second runner-up Ajibola Flourish won herself a ₦1 million educational grant, a laptop and a brand new phone.
Spellers who from fourth to 10th position were each awarded an educational grant worth ₦200,000 and given an MTN mPulse goody bag while those who placed between 11th to 20th position were also rewarded with ₦100,000 educational grant and an MTN mPulse goody bag. Cash prizes of N200,000, N300,000 and N500,000 respectively were also given to the teachers/coaches of the second runner-up, first runner-up and the Spelling Bee Champion. Talk about big wins for everyone who made it to the top 20.
The MTN mPulse Spelling Bee is an exciting initiative by MTN Nigeria designed to promote digital literacy, academic excellence, healthy competition and prepare youngsters between the ages of 9 and 16 years for the challenges of a digital world.
