Spelling Bee Winner: Saint Lawrence College Student, Oreoluwa Alayande To Be Crowned One Day MTN CEO March 11

By Joseph Sunday 

The current winner of the Spelling Bee Competition, Oreoluwa Alayande, a student of Saint Lawrence Metropolitan College in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State will soon be crowned as a one day Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the MTN Nigeria on Wednesday, the 11th of March, 2026. 

Oreoluwa Alayande, a 14 years old girl who recently emerged as the winner of the Spelling Bee Competition at a special event held in her school premises where the MTN Nigeria officials officially presented a cheque of the sum of N10 million intervention project to support the institution that nurtured her academic success.

Speaking at the event, the Sales and Trade Development Manager of MTN Nigeria, Chinyere Ikechi, said “the telecommunications company was proud to honour both the student and the school that produced her”.

According to Ikechi, Alayande distinguished herself among thousands of participants from across the Country during the competition.

“Oreoluwa represented not just the school, but the entire state with distinction, confidence and intelligence, following her outstanding performance, we made a commitment not just to celebrate the winner but to invest in the school that nurtured such brilliance.”

As part of the intervention, MTN donated 10 air conditioners for the school’s computer laboratory, a 30kV lithium inverter battery system, 10 brand new laptops, 10 broadband devices, and other educational materials aimed at strengthening digital learning in the institution.

The highlight of the celebration, however, remains Alayande’s upcoming role as MTN Nigeria’s one-day CEO, an experience designed to give the young scholar firsthand exposure to corporate leadership.

Expressing gratitude, Alayande who is in senior secondary school two, SS2, described the victory as a collective achievement for her school and supporters.

“Winning the MTN Spelling Bee is not just a personal achievement but a victory proudly shared by the entire school.

“I sincerely thank MTN for creating a platform that helps young students develop vocabulary, confidence and a love for learning.”

She also acknowledged her coach, teachers and parents for their support throughout the competition, noting that their encouragement helped shape her success.

Alayande encouraged other students to pursue excellence, saying, “I hope this award inspires many other young students to study harder, aim higher and never be afraid to compete.”

Her mother, Justina Alayande, described the victory as unexpected but deeply appreciated, thanking MTN and the school for supporting her daughter’s academic journey.

“We were not expecting this, but we thank God it came to our family, we appreciate MTN for the gifts and support and pray the company continues to grow and bless more lives.”

The principal of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Mr. Lawrence Oluwafemi, also commended MTN for recognising the school’s efforts in nurturing academic excellence.

He noted that although the school had produced students who represented Nigeria in international competitions in the past, it had rarely received institutional support.

During the event, he announced that Oreoluwa would enjoy a tuition-free education for the rest of her stay at the school in recognition of her outstanding achievement.

With the upcoming one-day CEO experience at MTN Nigeria, Alayande’s triumph is already inspiring students across Ekiti State and beyond, as she prepares to step briefly into the leadership of one of Africa’s largest telecommunications companies.