A student of Glorious Covenant School, Rivers State, Master Ikenna Ikechukwu, on Saturday, emerged as the champion of the 2024 MTN Nigeria mPulse Spelling Bee Competition.
Ikechukwu clinched the title at the grand finale held at the MTN Plaza Rooftop in Lagos.
As the winner, he will receive a ₦5 million education fund, a smartphone, a laptop, and the unique opportunity to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria for one day.
In his remarks, Ikechukwu expressed gratitude to his parents, teachers, school, and MTNN for the opportunity.
“A special thanks to MTN for this amazing platform that helps students play, learn, and shine. This opportunity has been truly life-changing,” he said.
In her welcome address, the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer of MTNN, Ms. Obiageri Ugboma, highlighted the scale of the competition, which saw about 40,000 students participating.
Ugboma praised the efforts of the 20 finalists, describing their journey as inspiring. She reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to education and nurturing young talent, emphasizing that the mPulse Spelling Bee reflects the organization’s belief in empowering youth.
“Today is not about winning but celebrating efforts, resilience, and the role models these students have become for their peers,” she said.
In his closing remarks, the General Manager of Consumer Segment at MTNN, Mr. Idowu Adesola, emphasized the organization’s dedication to nurturing and empowering talents.
In addition to his prizes, Ikechukwu’s school will receive an equipped ICT lab with 10 laptops and MTN 5G routers, while his teacher will receive a cash prize of ₦500,000.
The second and third runners-up, Master Ayomide Ibigbemi and Miss Munachimso Opara received ₦2 million and ₦1 million, respectively, along with laptops and smartphones. The remaining 17 contestants each received a ₦200,000 educational fund.
The mPulse Spelling Bee, an annual event, marked its fifth anniversary in 2024.