14-Year-Old Spelling Bee Champion Serves as One-Day CEO of MTN Nigeria
In a remarkable achievement, Oreoluwa Alayande, a 14-year-old student from St. Lawrence Metropolitan College in Ado Ekiti, recently assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria for a single day. This prestigious opportunity was awarded to her after she emerged as the national champion of the 2025 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee competition, triumphing over more than 40,000 participants from across Nigeria.
Expanding Opportunities and Celebrating Milestones
The 2025 edition of the competition marked a significant milestone with the expansion of regional qualifiers, which were held in Abuja, Enugu, and Oyo. This broader reach ensured that children from various parts of the country could participate and vie for the top prize. Dr. Karl Toriola, the CEO of MTN Nigeria, reflected on the importance of this initiative, stating that it serves as a blueprint for the future of Nigerian leadership.
"Welcoming Oreoluwa into this office today is a reminder of why we invest in young people," Toriola said. "By expanding our regional reach this year, we ensured that this opportunity was accessible to every child. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, seeing a young woman lead this organisation – even for a day – reinforces our mission to break glass ceilings. We are going beyond giving prizes; we are building a legacy of inclusion and digital literacy that will live on in her school and her community for years to come."
Rewards and Impact Beyond the Individual
Alayande's victory brought substantial rewards, both personal and institutional. Individually, she received a N5 million scholarship grant, a brand-new laptop, and a smartphone. However, the impact extended to her school as well. In line with MTN's commitment to sustainable education, St. Lawrence Metropolitan College was awarded a ₦10 million flagship reward. This comprehensive package includes:
- A state-of-the-art ICT Lab equipped with 10 high-end laptops.
- MTN 5G Broadband routers with complimentary data to facilitate digital learning.
- A N500,000 cash prize for the winning teacher to honor their mentorship.
Aligning with International Women's Day 2026
Alayande's tenure as CEO coincided with the global celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, adding a layer of significance to her achievement. She expressed her gratitude and highlighted the inclusive nature of the competition. "As we celebrate International Women’s Day this month, I am deeply moved by how MTN promotes women’s inclusion and equality. I am the third female one-day CEO out of seven champions so far – that is a clear sign of how inclusive the competition is," she stated.
She further shared that winning the competition has been one of the most exciting and life-changing moments of her life. "This opportunity means so much more to me because it goes beyond winning a competition. It represents hard work, dedication, and the power of believing in oneself. Through the MTN mPulse Spelling Bee, I have learned that excellence, discipline, and perseverance truly pay off."
MTN's Broader Educational Initiatives
Commenting on the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, emphasized that the mPulse Spelling Bee is more than just a competition. "It is a gateway to various opportunities," she said. "It is one of MTN's initiatives to support the education sector and encourage students to develop the requisite skills to succeed in today’s world." This initiative underscores MTN's dedication to fostering digital literacy and empowering the next generation of leaders in Nigeria.
