73 Schools to Participate in Yobe’s 3rd Spelling Bee Competition
By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
Seventy-three schools from the 17 local government areas of Yobe State are set to participate in the third edition of the Yobe Spelling Bee Competition, scheduled to be held from August 24 to 26, 2026, in Damaturu.
The three-day competition will bring together young learners for academic contests aimed at promoting literacy, intellectual development, confidence and healthy competition among students.
According to a statement signed by Ibrahim Baba Saleh, Media Coordinator/Liaison Officer in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of the Media Committee for the Yobe 3rd Spelling Bee Competition, the participating schools comprise 51 public schools, 21 private schools and one special school.
The composition, the statement said, reflects the inclusive nature of the initiative and the administration’s commitment to identifying and supporting talented children regardless of their location, background or educational circumstances.
The competition is being fully funded through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions from private-sector organisations in the state, with the backing, coordination and institutional support of the Yobe State Government.
The partnership, according to the statement, demonstrates how responsible corporate participation can complement government investment in education while creating sustainable opportunities for young people.
The inaugural edition, held in 2021, featured more than 40 schools and 100 contestants, while the second edition in 2024 brought together 144 contestants—72 boys and 72 girls—from 72 schools across the state.
Over the years, the programme has promoted literacy, confidence, discipline and healthy academic competition among children from both rural and urban communities.
Under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, the Yobe Spelling Bee has evolved beyond an academic contest into a platform for discovering talent, encouraging reading and strengthening the intellectual resilience of children in a state recovering from the effects of prolonged insecurity.
The initiative also reflects the administration’s position that educational transformation requires more than physical infrastructure, but also programmes that stimulate curiosity, reward excellence and inspire children to believe in their abilities.
Parents, teachers, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, corporate organisations and members of the public have been urged to support the contestants peacefully and orderly and contribute to the success of the competition.
The statement said the Yobe Spelling Bee is not only about producing champions in spelling, but also about nurturing confident minds and preparing a new generation of leaders for a peaceful, educated and prosperous Yobe State.
