Oyebanji Gifts Ekiti Spelling Bee Champion ₦8M

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has rewarded the 14-year-old Ekiti-born winner of the 2026 African Spelling Bee Junior Category, Miss Adeolu Oluwadamilola Ooreofe, her coach and her school with cash gifts totalling N8 million.

NaijaChoice News reports that the Governor also pledged full sponsorship for the champion, her mother and coach to represent Africa at the World Spelling Bee Championship in China later this year, with two additional representatives from her school joining the team.

The historic gesture came during a reception held in the Governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, where Oyebanji hosted Miss Ooreofe, her mother Mrs Oluwabunmi Adeolu, the proprietor of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College Ado-Ekiti, Mr Lawrence Oluwafemi, and her coach, Mrs Esther Omolayo.

The young spelling prodigy had clinched the continental title on March 20 in Harare, Zimbabwe, after outclassing contestants from over 20 African countries in a display of brilliance that has continued to draw national acclaim.

Governor Oyebanji, while receiving the team, declared his administration’s unwavering commitment to education as the bedrock of Ekiti’s development. He hailed Miss Ooreofe’s feat as a shining example of the state’s enduring legacy of academic excellence and the values of diligence, discipline and hard work for which Ekiti people are renowned.

“Since the inception of this administration, we have made deliberate efforts to reposition the education sector through strategic investment in infrastructure, capacity building for teachers, provision of learning materials and policies aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning across the state,” the Governor stated.

He stressed that his government has maintained a deliberate balance between what is taught, how it is taught and where it is taught, while aligning the curriculum with 21st-century demands.

Oyebanji assured that the state would continue to reward excellence in education and all sectors to inspire students and teachers to aim higher. He urged young people across Ekiti to stay focused, declaring that hard work, determination and discipline remain the surest path to success.

In his direct words to the champion, the Governor said: “Damilola has once again demonstrated what Ekiti people are known for – diligence, hard work, honour and excellence and I am so proud of her. As a government, in the last three and half years, we have done everything humanly possible to reposition the education sector in Ekiti State from the primary, secondary to tertiary education system and we are also looking at informal education.

“Our strategy is to ensure that we strike a balance between what is being taught, how is being taught and where is being taught because for you to have the best in that sector, the content and the curriculum must be alive to serve the need of the state, the country and globally.

“After conquering Africa, what is next is to conquer the world. I learnt that she will be going to China to represent Africa. The state will sponsor her, the mother, her coach and two others from the school and as a token of appreciation, the state government will give Damilola two million naira, her coach, one million and the school, five million naira.”

Mr Lawrence Oluwafemi, the school proprietor, commended the Governor’s intentional policies in the education sector, noting that such support has fueled recent successes by students in the state. He described the cash reward and sponsorship as a powerful affirmation of the Governor’s resolve to celebrate hard work and excellence.

Miss Ooreofe, visibly elated, expressed deep gratitude to the Governor for the recognition and the opportunity to compete on the global stage. She described the sponsorship as a strong motivation to aim even higher and bring more glory to Ekiti and Nigeria.

The Governor’s intervention has sparked widespread excitement in Ekiti, reinforcing the state’s position as a hub of academic distinction while sending a clear message that talent and dedication will always receive premium government backing.