MTN Nigeria Opens 2026 mPulse Spelling Bee, Giving Young Learners a National Stage

MTN Nigeria has officially launched the 2026 edition of the mPulse Spelling Bee, inviting primary and secondary school students across the country to compete in one of Nigeria's largest literacy and digital education competitions.

Now in its eighth edition, the nationwide initiative is open to students aged 9 to 15 years and combines online participation with regional physical contests before culminating in a grand finale in Lagos. Organizers say the competition is designed to promote literacy, reward academic excellence and provide young learners with opportunities to develop confidence, communication skills and critical thinking.

The 2026 competition will run from July 20 to November 28, beginning with online practice sessions and qualifying rounds hosted on the mPulse platform. Students from across Nigeria can participate by creating or logging into their student profiles, completing practice tests and proceeding to the qualifying stage once they are ready.

To broaden participation, MTN Nigeria has expanded this year's format with three regional physical competitions to be held in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Abeokuta. The regional events will bring together the top 3,000 online qualifiers, 500 students from each of Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, before the best performers advance to the national finals in Lagos.

Beyond celebrating exceptional spelling ability, the competition also rewards the schools and teachers who help nurture academic excellence. Winning schools in each region stand to receive prizes worth up to ₦1 million, while outstanding teachers will also be recognised for their contributions to students' success. At the national level, finalists will compete for prizes valued at up to ₦40 million, including scholarships, cash rewards, laptops, smartphones and the unique opportunity for the overall winner to serve as "MTN CEO for a Day."

Speaking on the initiative, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the mPulse Spelling Bee continues to create opportunities for talented young Nigerians regardless of where they live.

She noted that by combining digital participation with regional competitions, the programme enables students from every part of the country to showcase their abilities on a national stage while building confidence, resilience and a belief in the value of hard work.

Over the years, the mPulse Spelling Bee has grown into more than a spelling competition. It has become a platform for identifying young talent, encouraging healthy academic competition and supporting digital learning among school-age children. Previous editions have produced winners who have gone on to become youth ambassadors for education while inspiring thousands of other students to embrace reading and lifelong learning.

Education experts say competitions of this nature play an important role in strengthening literacy at a time when digital technology is transforming how young people learn. By blending online learning with live competitions, the programme exposes students to technology while reinforcing core language and communication skills that remain essential for academic and professional success.

Parents, guardians and schools interested in the competition are encouraged to register eligible students and begin preparations early. Students can participate by visiting mpulse.mtn.ng, where they can create a student profile, access practice tests and complete the qualifying rounds online before progressing to the regional stages.