Credit: MTN
Daniel Victor Nkanu, a student enrolled at Intimacy with Christ International School, has secured the championship title in the Spelling Bee competition, following in the footsteps of last year’s victor, Kate Ene-David.
Maintaining a humble demeanour and a stoic expression that revealed little emotion, the 12-year-old Daniel emerged victorious amidst stiff competition during the grand finale of the 2023 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee.
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The event took place at the MTN Rooftop, located in the MTN Headquarters, Ikoyi, Lagos. Hailing from Nasarawa State, the teenager triumphed over 19 other finalists in a rigorous tournament that spanned nearly three hours.
In a historic turn of events, the MTN mPulse Spelling Bee reached a spell-off for the first time in its history, with Daniel and the first runner-up, Adeolu Oluwadamilola, successfully spelling all the words in a fiercely contested championship round. During the spell-off, Daniel showcased his superior spelling skills by correctly spelling eight words, while Adeolu managed to secure only one word.
Kate Ene-David, the previous year’s Spelling Bee champion and Daniel’s schoolmate, aged 15, was present at the event and enthusiastically placed the Spelling Bee sash around Daniel’s neck. The Bee Master, Titus Bankole, officially declared Daniel as the winner.
In recognition of his achievement, Daniel not only earned the title of MTN’s One-Day CEO but also received a substantial educational grant of ₦2.5 million, along with a laptop, a phone, and an MTN mPulse goody bag. Furthermore, Daniel’s school, Intimacy with Christ International, is set to receive 10 laptops and 10 5G modems, enhancing digital literacy and fortifying the school’s ICT laboratory.
However, Daniel was not the sole recipient of accolades that afternoon. First runner-up Adeolu Oluwadamilola was awarded a ₦1.5 million educational grant, a laptop, and a new phone. Second runner-up Ajibola Flourish secured a ₦1 million educational grant, a laptop, and a new phone.
Educational grants worth ₦200,000, along with MTN mPulse goody bags, were granted to spellers from the fourth to the tenth position. Similarly, those in the 11th to 20th position received ₦100,000 educational grants and MTN mPulse goody bags. Additionally, cash prizes of ₦200,000, ₦300,000, and ₦500,000 were awarded to the teachers/coaches of the second runner-up, first runner-up, and the Spelling Bee Champion, respectively.
The MTN mPulse Spelling Bee stands as a compelling initiative by MTN Nigeria, aimed at fostering digital literacy, academic excellence, healthy competition, and preparing youngsters between the ages of 9 and 16 for the challenges of a digital world.
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