In a historic meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills welcomed 11-year-old Amazing-Grace Ahuoyiza Ebiebi Salami, Nigeria’s inaugural Spellingbee In Nigeria (SpIN) champion, who is set to represent her country at the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
Amazing-Grace, a student from Greenpath Preparatory School in Abuja, clinched the national title in March 2025 after correctly spelling “melange” during the grand finale held at the U.S. Consul General’s residence in Lagos. The competition featured 64 finalists from across Nigeria, marking the country’s debut in the prestigious event.
Ambassador Mills commended Amazing-Grace for her exceptional achievement and expressed pride in Nigeria’s participation in the centennial edition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. He emphasized the importance of fostering educational exchange and academic excellence between the United States and Nigeria.
During the meeting, Amazing-Grace shared her excitement about representing Nigeria on the global stage and pledged to uphold the country’s honor at the competition. She was accompanied by her mother, Kemi Salami, who expressed gratitude for the support and opportunities provided by the SpIN initiative.
The SpIN competition, affiliated with the Scripps National Spelling Bee, aims to promote literacy and a love of the English language among Nigerian youth. It provides a platform for students to develop critical thinking, public speaking, and linguistic skills.
As Amazing-Grace prepares for the upcoming competition, she is poised to make history as Nigeria’s first representative at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, showcasing the nation’s commitment to academic excellence and international collaboration.
The 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., in May 2025, bringing together top spellers from across the United States and around the world.
