MTN Nigeria concludes the grand finale of its highly anticipated fifth edition of the mPulse Spelling Bee Competition on Saturday, November 30, at MTN Plaza Rooftop.

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.

SAIL Teachers Fellowship Program recently celebrated a milestone graduation, equipping 4000 teachers with innovative teaching techniques to transform Nigerian classrooms.

The program, organised through a collaboration between the SAIL Empowerment Foundation and MTN Foundation, represents a groundbreaking effort to transition educators from traditional methods to inquiry-based and digital learning strategies.

This year’s fellowship, a hybrid initiative engaging over 4,000 teachers from a pool of 15,000 applicants, culminated in intensive training sessions and certifications for 400 outstanding participants. These educators were introduced to tools like Canva, and advanced classroom management strategies designed to address the unique challenges of Nigerian classrooms.

During the graduation event in Lagos, MTN Foundation’s Executive Director, Odunayo Sanya, emphasised the Foundation’s 20-year legacy of impactful initiatives, with investments totalling over ₦30 billion across health, education, and empowerment sectors. Sanya underscored the Fellowship’s transformative role in shaping the nation’s future through teacher development.

Sanya challenged the teachers to become change-makers. “The knowledge you have gained is not for you alone. You are expected to empower other teachers and uplift your students, ensuring the impact of this training spreads beyond you.”

Senator Tokunbo Abiru, co-founder of the SAIL Empowerment Foundation, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the program’s vision to empower teachers as change agents within their communities.

Abiru called for continued partnerships to expand the program’s reach and ensure its sustainability. “The Teachers’ Fellowship has grown to about 6,700 teachers thanks to the incredible support from MTN Foundation,” he said.

The event also featured the unveiling of the MTN Foundation’s legacy publication, Yellow Impact: 20 Years Stronger, a testament to two decades of impactful interventions. As both organizations reiterated their commitment to the program, they underscored the importance of collective effort in shaping the future of education in Nigeria.

With plans to expand the program in the coming year, the MTN Foundation and SAIL Empowerment Foundation continue to inspire hope and transformation in the education sector.

Mr. Biram Fall, the Regional General Manager, QNET Sub-Saharan Africa, has said that with over 350 million unbanked adults, there is a significant potential of financial inclusion and digital solutions for Africa, and a vast opportunity to expand access to financial security, event through electronic commerce (eCommerce).

Mr. Biram Fall, the Regional General Manager, QNET Sub-Saharan Africa

Speaking as a lead presenter at the recent Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 4.0) held in Lagos, Fall stated that financial inclusion transforms lives by providing essential financial tools like savings accounts, credit, and insurance, which foster economic independence.

He referenced the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which highlights the role of financial services in strengthening economic resilience and reducing inequality, making them crucial for African socio-economic progress.

Speaking on the theme, “Harnessing Fintech Solutions for Financial Inclusion & eCommerce Growth,” Fall highlighted Africa’s opportunity to empower the 350 million unbanked adults by providing access to essential financial services.

“The demand for financial inclusion aligns with a projected $75 billion e-commerce market in Africa by 2025, driven by rising internet access and smartphone adoption.

“However, limited banking infrastructure and high cash dependency hinder digital engagement,” he said.

Fall who made reference to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), noted that digital payments can unlock significant revenue for small businesses and expand e-commerce by making digital platforms more accessible and trusted.

“Digital payment solutions like mobile wallets simplify transactions and build trust in digital platforms.

“The African Development Bank recognizes that increased accessibility of financial products boosts consumer confidence in digital payments and enhances participation in e-commerce,” Fall said.

He disclosed that QNET’s initiatives, such as its “Fit Green” financial literacy programme, have trained over 1,500 young Nigerians, promoting financial self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship through an e-commerce-driven direct-selling model active in over 100 countries.

“Our e-commerce driven direct-selling model provides income-generating opportunities in over 100 countries, promoting entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency in low-income regions. True progress requires collaboration.

The QNET regional manager emphasized the need for cross-sector partnerships to bridge Africa’s infrastructure gaps, expand digital financial services, and build an inclusive financial landscape.

QNET’s mission, according to Fall, is to use technology and partnerships to make financial inclusion and e-commerce key pillars of progress across Africa, empowering individuals and fostering economic growth for underserved populations.