The Asagba of Asaba, Delta State, Epiphany Azinge, has awarded a full scholarship through university level to Chinedu Okediachi.

Okediachi won a gold medal for Nigeria at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China.

The gesture was disclosed by the Nigeria Spelling Bee in a statement on its Facebook page on Wednesday.

The organisation thanked the monarch for the scholarship, describing his generosity as a reflection of his commitment to education.

It added that the monarch’s support would shape a bright future for the champion and inspire the wider community.

“Our sincere gratitude to His Royal Majesty, the Asagba of Asaba, for awarding our Spelling Bee World Cup Gold Award medalist (Chinedu Great Okediachi of Madonna International College Asaba) a full scholarship through to the university level.

“Your Majesty’s extraordinary generosity and commitment to education will shape a bright future for our champion and inspire our entire community.” the statement read.

Okediachi, a student of Madonna International College, Asaba, was part of the four-member Team Nigeria that clinched the Gold Award in the Middle School Group Category at the competition held in Shanghai between July 10 and July 20.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the team, which included Oluwadamilola Adeolu of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti, and Abdurrahman Yusuf and Maryam Yusuf, both of Ar-Raheem International College, Ilorin, made history as Nigeria’s first-ever representatives at the global tournament.

They qualified after progressing through the Nigeria Spelling Bee and the African Spelling Bee Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe.

At the continental qualifiers, Adeolu emerged champion of the Junior category, outperforming contestants from more than 30 African countries.

Yusuf finished third at the same event, while Nigeria placed second overall among the participating nations.

Announcing the team’s participation ahead of the tournament, the Nigeria Spelling Bee had described the students’ journey as one marked by excellence and determination, noting that they carried the hopes of the nation and the continent into the competition.

Ar-Raheem International College also confirmed the feat on its Facebook page, disclosing that two of its students, Maryam and Abdurrahman, had won medals at the tournament.

Reacting to the outcome, the organisers said the achievement further strengthened Nigeria’s growing profile in international spelling competitions.