English Language Teacher Who Coached 20 Students to Spelling Bee Victory Shares His Secret
When it comes to coaching students to victory at the spelling bee competition in Nigeria, there is one teacher who has successfully done it so many times. The teacher, Adesuyi Adeola, has over 20 spelling bee victories to his credit.
Source: Original
In an interview with Legit.ng, Adesuyi, who teaches English language at the Greater Tomorrow International College, Agridi Akoko, Ondo state, shared how he started his journey of coaching students to spelling bee competitions.
How Adesuyi stated coaching students for spelling bee
Adesuyi describes himself as a passionate lover of words. Perhaps this explains why he pursues spelling bee competitions with candour.
He said:
"I am Adesuyi Adeola, an English Language teacher and a passionate lover of words. I obtained my University degree at Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State; and recently completed my Cambridge IGCSE First Language English course. I am an English Language teacher, currently at Greater Tomorrow International College, Ondo State. I have been teaching since 2016."
Adesuyi said he never had an opportunity to win spelling bee competitions while in secondary school because, according to him, he never had good coaches who would train him.
Owing to this, Adesuyi vowed to become an exemplary coach, helping students win the laurels he could not win.
He told Legit.ng:
"During my secondary school education, I had no teacher to mentor me for academic competitions. The only one I went for...I was knocked out of the first round due to lack of proper training. It is for this reason that I vowed to help as many talented kids as possible to achieve dreams I could not achieve when I was like them."
Number of students Adesuyi has coached
Adesuyi has been successful in his teaching career, leading as many as 20 students to victory, and he said he has coached 30 to major spelling bee contests over the years.
He told Legit.ng:
"To the glory of Jehovah, I have coached quite a lot of students who have emerged state, regional and national competitions in different spelling bee competitions. I would say, about 30 different students."
Remarkably, Adesuyi remembers the names of most of the students he has coached.
He mentioned them:
"Some notable spellers I've had amazing time with are: Charles David, Adebayo Rebecca, Okache Marvel, Afolabi Mubarak, Ogunnaike Uswat, Agbaje Kanyinsola, Sanni-Oluwasegun Inioluwa, Tijani Rahamat, Alabi Daniella, Ilesanmi Temitope, Osalusi Damilare, Osalusi Daramola, Arotiowa Eniola, Ogunleye Aderinsola, Adeyeri Emmanuella, Oluwalami Diekololuwa, Temojo Shilton, Temojo Newton, Mike Adeyeri Goodness, Ogunmolawa Victor; and so many others."
Awards and recognitions
When asked to share the most exciting experiences he has had as a spelling bee coach, the teacher said it was those moments his spellers came tops.
He stated:
"I've had so many exciting experiences. The best of all is the satisfaction I always feel when I watch young talents I've nurtured go on stage and hoist trophies as national champions. This year, one of my spellers emerged second best in Africa; the third time my speller would be selected to represent Nigeria at the African level after my team previously had similar international opportunities in Uganda, Malawi, and Dubai. One of my spellers who just emerged 2025 champion at Nigeria Spelling Bee has an opportunity of representing Nigeria in Zimbabwe next year. The joy I feel is undiluted."
But it is not all the time that his spellers won. He has had some moments of deats.
However, Adesuyi said he learned valuable lessons from the defeats he suffered in his career.
His words:
"Yes, on few occasions, my spellers did not win national competitions. Of course, no one can win it all. I must say, I learnt more lessons in those few defeats than in the numerous victories I've had as a spelling coach."
His success story has been rewarded with numerous awards.
He said those moments when his efforts were recognised made him feel fulfilled and accomplished.
Some of his major personal achievements are:
"Two different awards as the 2025 Best Spelling Bee Coach in Nigeria, Champion's Coach at Nigeria Spelling Bee in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025, Champion's Coach at Spelling Leaders Competition in 2022 and 2023, Champion's Coach at 2022 and 2023 Intercontinental Spelling Bee, Official judge at 2024 and 2025 Champion's Spelling Bee, The progenitor of the first virtual spelling bee in Nigeria, Winner of over 20 national Spelling Bee competitions and 1 African Spelling Bee competition."
Source: Original
Law graduate wins over 18 awards
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian man became popular on social media due to the academic laurels he won both at university and law school.
The man, Oluwabusayo Ifonlaja, shared his academic success story on X where it went viral and attracted a lot of praise.
The man won at least 18 academic awards at the Nile University of Nigeria and the Nigerian Law School.
Source: Legit.ng
