The winner of the inaugural Spelling Bee In Nigeria (SpIN), Amazing-Grace Ahuoyiza Salami, is set to represent the country at the 100th edition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

The 12-year-old’s participation marks Nigeria’s debut in the prestigious competition.

Ahead of the competition, Salami, a student of Greenpath Preparatory School, Abuja, paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

She shared her excitement about the upcoming competition and the opportunity to interact with peers from around the world.

In a statement on Sunday, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said Salami expressed gratitude for the support received and pledged to represent Nigeria with excellence on the international stage.

In her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa commended Salami’s achievement, describing her as a source of national pride while emphasising the significance of Nigeria’s participation in the global event, as the country joins Ghana to be the only African countries to ever participate since its establishment about a century ago.

According to Balogun, the NiDCOM boss reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting initiatives that empower Nigerian youth and enhance the country’s global presence through excellence and innovation.

Salami was accompanied on the visit by her mother, Mrs. Kemi Salami, and Mrs. Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Country Director for Young Educators Foundation, who led the delegation, as well as other members of her team.