…as winners emerge at the sixth edition of the competition
What began as a simple dream to empower young minds has grown into one of Nigeria’s most inspiring annual academic platforms.
Olayinka Arimoro, through the Spelling Bee Competition, has created a space where children discover confidence, discipline, and the power of literacy, turning his vision into a nationwide force for academic change.
Seven years ago, the founder of Predicare Steun Foundation had a dream of gathering and nurturing young and eager minds to become leaders in various fields of life through academic excellence.
The 2025 PSF Spelling Bee Competition had not less than 187 children gathered to size each other with vocabularies and correct spelling of words.
Arimoro in his opening speech at the 2025 competition, said the foundation understands that education is the great equaliser, hence, pay premium attention to it.
“Education doesn’t just open doors, it builds entirely new pathways where none existed before.
“Through this Spelling Bee, we are not merely testing vocabulary, we’re celebrating discipline, nurturing confidence, and igniting the belief that excellence is within reach for every child willing to work for it,” he said.
In addition, he said, “To our participants, you have already won by choosing to be here. The hours you’ve spent studying, the words you’ve practiced, the nervousness you have conquered, these are the building blocks of greatness.
“Today, we celebrate not just your correct spellings, but your courage, commitment, and refusal to let anything limit your aspirations.”
Mary Abiodun, the school support officer at PSF explained that the competition is for junior secondary school students across the country.
However, she emphasised that each participant must register with a proof such as birth certificate and evidence of being a student in a Nigerian school.
“Anybody can register and participate as long as you are in JSS 1 to 3 and you are between the ages of nine and 12. When you are registering, we ask for your birth certificate, because that’s one of the ways we confirm if you are actually between that age.
“Anyone willing to come from any part of Nigeria for the competition is allowed to participate, we’re ready to have you around.,” she explained.
Furthermore, Abiodun explained that the prize money is N330,000 for the three best candidates, besides consolation prizes for other participants.
“Over the years, our winners used to get laptops and N150,000, the overall best, first runner-up gets N100,000, while the second runner-up gets N80,000, besides consolation prizes.
“However, instead of giving the students cash prizes, we have decided to channel the cash prizes towards their education, so we will pay for their school fees, instead of giving them cash.
“The prizes remain N150,000 for the first position, N100,000 for the second position, and N80,000 for the third position and other consolation prizes,” she said.
Moreover, Abiodun explained that the competition could not in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, hence, the 2025 edition is the sixth in the series.
At the end of the spelling competition, Abiola Idowu-Taylor emerged as the overall winner, with a prize money of N150,000, a laptop and other consolation prizes. Elizabeth Komolafe, emerged the first runner-up, Dorcas Ojo, got the second runner-up position, while Gabriel Dasaolu, grabbed the third runner-up position.
The 12 top winners include Abiola Idowu-Taylor, from Royal Bell Standard College; Elizabeth Komolafe, Glorious Heritage School; Dorcas Ojo, Greater Crown Unique College; Gabriel Dasaolu, Blue Rose School; Esther Ogunsola, Goshen City Schools; and Barakat Afeez, Reniks Secondary School.
Others are Shalom Iyiola, De-Angels High School; Kazeem Uthman, De-Angels High School; Opeoluwa Olokodana, Emadan Academy; Temitope Abdulfareed, De-Angels High School; Olaoseeji Emmanuel, Eagerminds College; and Ubong-Edet Idara, Daropeg College.
Arimoro emphasised that each year of the competition reaffirms the foundation’s belief that talent knows no zip code, and genius is not determined by circumstance.
“The young people before us today represent the boundless potential that exists in every neighborhood, every community, and every child who dares to dream beyond their current reality.
“To the parents and teachers, you are the unsung heroes. Your encouragement, sacrifice, and unwavering belief in these young minds have brought us to this moment. Thank you for investing in a future brighter than any of us can fully imagine,” he said.
Abiodun disclosed that the Spelling Bee competition is an intellectual event and that the purpose is for the foundation to gather young minds together and stimulate their minds and brains.
“Everything they’ve learned in school; this is where they come to showcase it. And the Spelling Bee also is a way to gather students and help them to compete, so that they can continue to grow.
“They can go back to school, take some of the things they learn from here, keep learning their English and the spellings and becoming better students,” she said.
