Melvin Odimegu Crowned Winner of the Spell It With Word Onyx Competition 2026 Junior Challenge

Spell It With Word Onyx winner Melvin Odimegu, a 13-year-old student of Excellent Gifted Elite Wisdom Academy (EGEWA), emerged champion of the 2026 Junior Challenge after a dramatic showdown against seven other contestants.

The competition, held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Cyrus International School, Kuje, brought together 80 contestants from schools in Kuje and different parts of Abuja for one of the most competitive editions of the Word Onyx spelling championship.

Melvin secured victory during the final’s two rounds of play, including the intense 60-second speed round where contestants had to quickly form and correctly spell words before a live audience.

During the decisive round, Melvin successfully formed and correctly spelt two words — “bites” worth 8 points and “dies” worth 5 points. The additional 13 points raised his cumulative score from 250 points to a winning total of 263 points.

For his victory, Melvin received a ₦100,000 cash prize and a gold medal.

His schoolmaster said the young champion trained intensely alongside his schoolmates before the competition. He also described Melvin as a strong leader in the Word Onyx Spelling Club at Ambassador School, Kuje, Abuja.

Strong competition in the finals

The final round featured some of the strongest contestants from schools across Abuja.

Jesutofunmi Alabi of TFour Stars Creative Academy, Kuje, finished in second place with 244 points, while Shafe Jasmine of Brave Leaders Academy, Kuje, secured third place with 243 points.

Other finalists included Ejeme Aigbokhan from Junior Secondary School Pegi, Caleb Ogban from Cyrus International School Kuje, Heritage Oluwadarasimi from Cyrus International School, and Ifeoluwa Peter from EGEWA.

Heritage Oluwadarasimi finished with 240 points, Ejeme Aigbokhan scored 235 points, Ifeoluwa Peter earned 231 points, and Caleb Ogban finished with 230 points.

One contestant was disqualified during the final after forming one word on the answer sheet but announcing a different word before the audience, a violation of the competition rules.

Several contestants impressed the audience with difficult word attempts during the contest. Jesutofunmi Alabi and Shafe Jasmine strongly contended with the word “hideous,” while Ejeme Aigbokhan impressed judges with the word “quid.” Ifeoluwa Peter also drew attention with the word “quil.”

How the finals worked

The finals consisted of two rounds of play designed to test vocabulary, spelling accuracy, speed, decoding ability, and confidence before a live audience.

Contestants were required to study Word Onyx spelling cards displayed on a screen and form high-value English words from the available letter combinations. After writing their selected words, they stepped before the audience to pronounce and spell the words correctly.

The final stage included a 60-second speed round where contestants had a limited time to form and spell as many valuable words as possible.

Scores were calculated based on the point value of the words formed and correctly spelt throughout the competition stages.

Evolution of the Word Onyx competition

The Word Onyx Multiplex method of play was first introduced during the 2022 Word Onyx Spelling Competition.

In 2026, organizers introduced two additional methods — Spell It With Word Onyx and Word Onyx Solo Play — to further challenge contestants’ ability to decode words, think critically, and confidently spell before an audience.

The competition organizers said the new formats were designed to combine literacy, public speaking, creativity, and strategic thinking in a fun learning environment.

What the champion said

Speaking after his victory, Melvin said he felt proud of his achievement and believed the win proved he could succeed at any time with determination and preparation.

“This win has proved that I can win any time,” he said.

His coach, Mr Co, said the team worked extremely hard in preparation for the competition and praised Melvin’s dedication throughout the training process.

How to qualify for the Spell It With Word Onyx Competition

To qualify for the Spell It With Word Onyx Competition, students must not be older than 13 years and must not have passed JSS 3 or 9th grade level.

Contestants participate through school registration.

What did the champion win?

The 2026 champion received prizes from Word Onyx Resources Ltd, including cash rewards totalling ₦175,000, commemorative medals, and plaque awards presented to winning schools.

The event also featured entertainment, storytelling, poetry performances, singing by children from the Word Onyx Club, dancing, refreshments, and support from parents, teachers, coaches, and friends who attended the championship.