Ikenna Ikechukwu, a student from Glorious Covenant School, Rivers State, on Saturday emerged as champion of the fifth edition of mPulse Spelling Bee at MTN Plaza Rooftop.
Ikechukwu impressed the audience and
judges by correctly spelling the winning word, “Cornucopia,” within six seconds to secure the grand prize of a ₦5 million scholarship, laptop, smartphone and mPulse goody bag.
Ikenna will also serve as the MTN CEO for a Day.
The event showcased the brilliance of Nigeria’s youth, bringing together 20 of the country’s top young spellers in a thrilling and inspiring contest.
The competition began in September with thousands of participants across Nigeria.
“A special thanks to MTN for this amazing platform that helps students learn, play and shine. This opportunity has been truly life-changing,” said Ikechukwu.
Speaking at the event, chief risk and compliance officer at MTN Nigeria Obiageli Ugboma remarked, “This year, over 40,000 young spellers
competed for the chance to stand here today. It is inspiring to see the incredible effort these 20 finalists have put in to make it this far. At MTN, we are deeply committed to education and nurturing young talents.
“The mPulse Spelling Bee reflects our belief in empowering the next generation. Today isn’t just about winning; it’s about celebrating effort, resilience, and the role models these students have become for their peers.”
In addition to the individual prizes, the champion’s school Glorious Covenant School was awarded an ICT lab equipped with 10 laptops and MTN 5G routers while the student’s teacher received ₦500,000 in cash.
The second and third-place winners, Ayomide Ibigbemi and Munachimso
Opara, also received significant prizes including scholarships, laptops and smartphones, reinforcing MTN’s focus on rewarding excellence in education.
For the first time, the grand finale was streamed live on the mPulse website mpulse.mtn.ng, myMTN app, and on Event channels 198 and 49 on both DSTV and GOTV, allowing Nigerians nationwide to witness the brilliance of these young spellers. The livestream attracted thousands of viewers, who cheered and celebrated the contestants from the comfort of their homes.
As the 2024 edition concludes, MTN reaffirmed its dedication to promoting literacy and digital inclusivity through initiatives like the mPulse Spelling Bee.
