His victory didn’t stop at securing him the championship title, it also gave him an extraordinary opportunity—to step into the role of MTN Nigeria’s One-Day CEO.

On this exclusive day, MTN Nigeria executives and staff gathered to witness the leadership transition, celebrating young talent and the beautiful power of education and digital access. 

A Platform for Growth and Digital Literacy

Speaking on the purpose of the mPulse Spelling Bee and the importance of the one-day CEO event, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Marketing Officer, Onyinye Ikenna Emeka, noted the initiative’s impact beyond just a spelling competition.

“The MTN mPulse Spelling Bee is more than a competition; it actually is a gateway for opportunities,” Emeka stated. “This initiative, which we launched in 2018, is targeted at our very active teens within the ages of 9 to 15 helping them to gain the requisite skills required to excel in today’s world. And you would all agree with me that today’s world is quite complex. 

“The initiative is focused on making sure that the students are able to build self-confidence, improve their act of public speaking, build on their digital literacy, and, of course, vocabulary enhancement. Today, we celebrate Ikenna, and we hope this occasion inspires other young Nigerians like himself to dream big, think big, believe they can actually achieve their dreams and do this while going MAD with MTN data.”

She went on to highlight how education, when combined with digital access, brings limitless possibilities, emphasizing MTN’s focus on empowering young minds through technology.

A Young Leader’s Moment in the Spotlight

As the microphone was passed to the one-day CEO, Ikechukwu said: “Being here as MTN Nigeria’s CEO for a day is a dream I never imagined would come true,” Ikechukwu said. “Thank you, MTN, for making this possible. Leading the largest ICT company in Nigeria is not something 15-year-olds think about, but MTN is making it possible for every child out there to dream.”

He recalled his journey, stating that winning the mPulse Spelling Bee was about much more than just spelling words.

“It was about learning, adapting, and embracing knowledge,” he explained. “I believe data is power, and the more we learn, the more we can achieve. MTN has taught me the importance of technology and education working together. Through digital platforms like the mPulse website, students like me can access free learning tools, practice tests, and vocabulary resources that help us go beyond the classroom.”

Speaking about his preparation for the competition, Ikechukwu revealed the rigorous effort and dedication that went into his win.

“I had been preparing for a long time. I first attempted the competition in 2022 and didn’t make it. I tried again in 2023 but still didn’t win. That experience taught me perseverance. I knew I had to work harder,” he shared.

He described the focus required, including studying multiple booklets containing thousands of words and making sacrifices to concentrate on his goal. “It meant giving up a lot of activities to dedicate time to studying. Hard work, determination, and prayer especially made all these possible.”

A Message for the Future

As his one-day tenure drew to a close, Ikechukwu advised: “Go make a difference with MTN data. Use digital resources to learn, innovate, and grow. Leverage technology and never stop learning.”

Beyond the glitz of the one-day CEO title, Ikechukwu seeks to become a software engineer later in future and the mPulse initiative experience has further impacted his dream, making him more determined than ever to pursue his goals.

MTN Nigeria is ensuring youths have adequate access to the right tools, with unshakable determination that drives truly limitless possibilities.

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, which began in September with thousands of participants across Nigeria, reached its climax as Ikenna Ikechukwu, a student from Glorious Covenant School, Rivers State, emerged as the 2024 mPulse Spelling Bee Champion.

Ikenna 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, a laptop, a smartphone, and mPulse goody bag.

Ikenna will also serve as the MTN CEO for a Day.

“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, Obiageli Ugboma, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, MTN Nigeria 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 reaffirms its dedication to promoting literacy and digital inclusivity through initiatives like the mPulse Spelling Bee.

The mPulse Spelling Bee has grown into a hallmark event for Nigerian primary and secondary students, creating a lasting impact on participants and their communities.

The stage is now set for future editions as MTN continues to bridge gaps in education through innovation and empowerment.

Each round of the competition progressed with a shortlist of students who made the next round, from the top 1000 participants to the top 20 finalists.

The top 20 finalists who are students between 9 and 15 years old from primary and secondary schools in Nigeria have successfully made it to the finals.

They will be competing for the grand prize of a scholarship grant,  ICT devices, smartphones, goody bags, and the chance to become MTN Nigeria’s CEO for a day.

The winning school will also be rewarded by MTN with 10 laptops and 10 Hynet modems as well as state-of-the-art ICT devices.

Although the winner goes home with the grand prize, all 20 participants will be rewarded with mouthwatering gifts for making the final round.

Unlike the previous rounds that were held on the mPulse website, the finale will hold on-site at the MTN Plaza, Falomo Ikoyi, Lagos, and will be streamed live on the MTN YouTube channel.

The finalists are expected to spell a broad selection of words with a higher degree of difficulty than in the other rounds.

A winner will emerge from this round who will go on to become MTN’s CEO for a day.

The MTN mPulse Spelling Bee was established to promote literacy, expand vocabulary, hone comprehension abilities, and boost students’ self-confidence.

To see the full list of winners and keep tabs on exciting updates about the competition, kindly visit the mPulse website.

The deadline for round one of the competition initially slated for October 9 has now been extended to October 23, 2022, for primary and secondary school students within the age bracket of 9 -15 years.

The mPulse Spelling Bee is an initiative to empower and equip young Nigerian students with the resources they need to reach their full potential. For the competition, participants will spell a broad selection of words with varying difficulties with the top 20 participants winning amazing prizes.

The 2022 edition will maintain a hybrid model. The first round of the competition is currently ongoing on the mPulse website, while the grand finale will take place at the MTN Nigeria Headquarters, Lagos in November 2022.

The overall winner, alongside the first and second runners-up, will be rewarded with cash prizes for themselves and their English teachers.

The champion’s school will be rewarded premium ICT devices including laptops and smartphones while the winner will also become MTN CEO for a day.

Although round one of the competition has commenced, interested students and schools in Nigeria can still register to participate on https://mpulse.mtn.ng/home/spellingBee if they are registered on the mPulse plan.

Students who wish to migrate to the mPulse plan may text mPulse to 344 or dial *344*1#. Round one of the competition ends on the 23rd of October 2022.