By Ovat Abeng
In a stunning display of brilliance that left educators, parents and community leaders in awe, an eight-year-old primary four pupil of Gaius Benton School, Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra, Master Chinemelum Chinonso has defeated over 150 nursery and primary schools to emerged overall winner in the just concluded spelling bee season 3 competition, organized and fully sponsored by the Joseph Onuorah Foundation (JOF).
The historic grand finale, held on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the packed Ndiowu Town Hall, Enumgbom Village, Ndiowu, attracted an unprecedented crowd of parents, teachers, education stakeholders, traditional leaders, community representatives and enthusiastic supporters who gathered to witness what has become one of the most prestigious academic competitions for primary school pupils in the region.
Expressing happiness over the success of the event, the founder of Joseph Onuorah Foundation (JOF), High Chief Joseph Onuorah while speaking to Journalists, said the competition is designed to encourage literacy, vocabulary development, public speaking confidence and academic excellence among children aged 7 to 12 years across the beneficial council areas.
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According to him, Chinonso emerged overall winner of the highly acclaimed Orumba Spelling Bee Season 3, defeating other contestants drawn from more than 150 participating schools across Orumba North and Orumba South Local Government Areas of Anambra State.
“What unfolded at the grand finale was nothing short of extraordinary. The boy conquered the giants.
“Against contestants who were older and in higher classes, Master Chinonso displayed exceptional composure, intelligence and mastery of language as he successfully navigated several challenging rounds to emerge overall champion.
“Representing his school and hometown of Ufuma in Orumba North Local Government Area, the young scholar consistently impressed judges and spectators alike with his confidence, precision and remarkable command of words beyond his age level.
“As the final winning word was correctly spelled and his name announced as champion, the hall erupted into thunderous applause. Parents rose to their feet, teachers celebrated, and fellow contestants joined in congratulating the young winner whose achievement instantly became the defining story of the competition.
His victory earned him the coveted grand prize of ₦200,000, making him one of the youngest winners in the history of the Orumba Spelling Bee Competition.
Other pupils that emerges victorious for second and third positions include; Miss Geoffrey Chinaza (Second position -100,000, age 10, from Pope John Paul Nursery/Primary School, Oko, primary 6 and indigene of Oko community, Orumba North) and Master Okoye God’s Purpose (Third position, age 11, from Living Spring School, Oko, primary 6 and indigene of Amaokpala Orumba North).
The founder noted that the winners also received cash prizes, trophies, certificates and widespread recognition for their outstanding academic accomplishments and that this year 2026 edition recorded its highest participation since inception.
Some of the school proprietors, teachers and parents who were also present at the event expressed appreciation to the Foundation for sustaining the initiative and consistently investing in the educational development of children across Orumba region.
They described the programme as one of the most impactful grassroots educational interventions currently taking place in Anambra State.
They noted that participation in the competition had significantly increased reading habits among pupils and motivated many children to devote more time to learning and self-improvement.
