In a significant boost for educational development, MTN Nigeria has announced the selection of seven brilliant pupils from the Ibadan region to advance to the grand finale of the 2025 mPulse Spelling Bee competition. This initiative underscores the telecom giant's firm commitment to entrenching meritocracy, fostering digital literacy, and championing academic excellence among the youth of Nigeria.
Intense Competition and Regional Triumph
The journey to the finals culminated over the weekend at the highly competitive Ibadan Regional Finals. This stage saw 20 exceptional contestants battle it out, having been meticulously chosen from a vast pool of more than 500 pupils who were initially screened across eight states: Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, and Edo.
Addressing the event, MTN's General Manager for Consumer Segment, Mr. Idowu Adesokan, hailed the contest as a true "contest of champions." He highlighted the remarkable brilliance and tenacity displayed by the young participants, which propelled the competition through five intense rounds before the seven regional representatives were finally determined.
Life-Changing Prizes and National Ambitions
Mr. Adesokan unveiled the extraordinary incentives awaiting the ultimate winner. The national champion of the 2025 edition will be honoured with the prestigious role of "MTN CEO for a Day," an experience packed with benefits valued at over N40 million. He emphasized that this is far from a ceremonial position; the winner will actively chair an executive committee meeting and perform select CEO-level functions, granting official approvals.
The grand prize package for the national champion includes:
- A N5 million educational grant
- A brand-new laptop
- A brand-new smartphone
- The "MTN CEO for a Day" experience
Furthermore, MTN has significantly upgraded the rewards for this seventh edition. The champion's dedicated teacher will receive N500,000, while the winner's school will be empowered with 10 laptops, 10 routers, and a substantial N10 million project grant.
Corporate Commitment and Grand Finale Countdown
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Temilolu Salako, MTN's Senior Manager for the Youths and Teens Segment, reaffirmed that the mPulse initiative is a core part of the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It reflects a deep-seated dedication to supporting literacy and creating tangible academic opportunities for students and schools across Nigeria.
He confirmed that the climactic national grand finale is scheduled for November 29 in Lagos. This event will feature the top finalists from Abuja, Enugu, and other competitive zones, all vying for the ultimate title.
The event garnered commendation from government officials, with Mr. Muminni Busari, a director representing the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, praising MTN for sustaining a competition that has positively shaped young minds for seven consecutive years. He reiterated the state government's commitment to nurturing future leaders.
The aspirations of the finalists were palpable. Miss Goodness Ewenike, one of the regional finalists, shared her dream of becoming the national champion and experiencing the thrill of leading MTN as CEO for a day. She noted that the contest had significantly broadened her academic horizons. Another finalist, Master Shilton Temojo, expressed gratitude to MTN for the platform to showcase his abilities and encouraged other students to seize similar opportunities.
As the 2025 mPulse Spelling Bee competition edges closer to its thrilling conclusion, all eyes are on Lagos, where one exceptional student will earn the unique and life-changing opportunity to serve as "MTN CEO for a Day."
