Seven students qualify for MTN mPULSE spelling bee grand finale

Seven students from the South-South and South-East regions have qualified for the grand finale of the MTN mPULSE Spelling Bee, following the conclusion of the regional competition held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday.

The students, Jaden Chimezunem, Nancy Ikechukwu, Godswill Obasi, Stephanie Ogbonna, Henry Williams, Harrison Aduku, and Victory Okafor, emerged from a pool of 20 contestants representing nine schools across the two regions.

They will join other finalists from across the country to compete for the national title at the grand finale in Lagos.

The mPULSE Spelling Bee is an annual initiative by MTN Nigeria that began in 2020 to promote academic excellence, literacy and intellectual development among young Nigerians.

Speaking at the regional competition in Port Harcourt on Monday, MTN’s Regional General Manager, Sales and Distribution, South Region, Ifeanyi Udom, said the contestants had progressed through different stages of the competition before securing their places at the regional finals.

“At the end of the online round, 20 outstanding students from across the South-East and the South-South were selected to come here in Port Harcourt and compete in the regional competition.

“From these 20 spellers sitting here with us, the top seven will earn a place at the grand finale in Lagos, where they will compete alongside other top spellers from across the country,” she said.

After several rounds of competition, the seven finalists were selected following impressive performances, drawing cheers from parents, teachers and other stakeholders present.

Udom commended all 20 contestants for their participation, noting that reaching the regional stage was an achievement in itself; saying the competition was designed to give young people the opportunity to develop their abilities, build confidence and discover their potential.

• Security was for City Boy Walk, Seyi Tinubu replies Isaac Fayose
• DFC Africa to host MMA Fight Night
• Tinubu deserves second term to consolidate reforms, says Yilwatda

“At MTN, we believe in enabling the dreams and aspirations of individuals. We also believe in giving young people opportunities to learn, grow and discover just how much they are capable of. That is one of the reasons the mPULSE Spelling Bee is very important to us,” she said.

The MTN official said the competition was more than just spelling words correctly, encouraging the students to see it as an opportunity to develop a stronger interest in learning.

Udom continued, “We want this experience to encourage you to read more, to learn more, to challenge yourself and, most importantly, to believe in yourself.”

One of the seven finalists, 14-year-old Henry Williams, a Junior Secondary School Three student of Legend College, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, expressed excitement about progressing to the grand finale, describing it as the outcome of years of persistence and preparation.

Edet, who said this was his third attempt at the regional finals, explained that he had previously been eliminated in the early stages of the competition. Determined to improve, he adopted a more consistent study routine, making use of his father’s phone to practice spelling and spending time reading at his school’s library.

“I feel very elated. This is the third time I have tried this spelling bee. The first time and second time, I always failed in the first round. This time, I passed the first round, passed the second round, came here, and I’m now at the final.

“Since I don’t have a phone, I use my dad’s phone when he is around to copy words. At school, I go to the library and read. When I come back home, I stay up late at night just to read words,” he said.

He added that he intends to dedicate more time to studying ahead of the grand finale, which he expects to be more competitive.

Our correspondent who covered the event reports that regional competition in Port Harcourt brought together students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders to support the contestants as they competed for a place in the national final.