Oreoluwa Alayande: From Spelling Bee Champion to MTN Nigeria's "CEO for a Day"

Oreoluwa Alayande, a 14-year-old student from St. Lawrence Metropolitan College in Ado-Ekiti, is set to make history as she steps into the role of MTN Nigeria’s CEO for a Day on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. 

Oreoluwa earned this prestigious opportunity after emerging as the national champion of the 2025 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee on November 29, 2025, where she outperformed thousands of participants across the country. 

Rewards and Recognition

Her victory brought significant rewards for both herself and her academic community: 

For Oreoluwa: A ₦5 million scholarship grant, high-end tech gadgets (including a laptop and smartphone), and the title of Face of mPulse for one year.

For Her School: A ₦10 million digital upgrade project for St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, which includes a 30kV lithium inverter battery system, 10 new air conditioners for the computer lab, 10 laptops, and 10 MTN 5G routers.

For Her Teacher: A ₦500,000 cash prize awarded to her coach, Mr. Gbenga Julius, in recognition of his mentorship. 

The Experience: Oreoluwa will take charge at the MTN Plaza, meeting with top executives and gaining firsthand exposure to corporate leadership at one of Africa's largest telecommunications firms. 

During a recent ceremony in Ekiti, MTN representatives praised Oreoluwa for representing her state with "distinction, confidence, and intelligence," values that the company aims to promote through its youth empowerment initiatives.