By Ayomide Otitoju
Fourteen-year-old Oreoluwa Alayande, a student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado Ekiti, has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria for a day after emerging as the national champion of the 2025 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee.
Oreoluwa secured the top position after outperforming more than 40,000 participants from across the country in the nationwide academic competition designed to promote literacy and intellectual excellence among young Nigerians.
The 2025 edition of the competition introduced expanded regional qualifiers held in Abuja, Enugu, and Oyo, a move organisers said was aimed at ensuring broader representation and creating a more inclusive platform for students nationwide.
Speaking on the initiative, Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the programme reflects the company’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders.
He noted that expanding the regional reach of the competition was intended to make the opportunity accessible to more students across the federation.
According to him, Oreoluwa’s leadership experience also aligns with the global celebration of International Women’s Day, highlighting the importance of promoting gender inclusion and empowering young women to take on leadership roles.
Beyond the recognition, Oreoluwa received a ₦5 million scholarship grant, a laptop, and a smartphone for her achievement.
Her school, St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, also received a ₦10 million flagship reward as part of the programme’s educational support initiative. The package includes the installation of a modern ICT laboratory equipped with 10 high-end laptops, MTN 5G broadband routers with complimentary data to support digital learning, and a ₦500,000 cash prize for the winning teacher in recognition of their mentorship.
The initiative is designed to strengthen digital learning infrastructure in schools while encouraging academic excellence among students.
Reflecting on her achievement, Oreoluwa said she was inspired by the company’s commitment to gender inclusion.
“As we celebrate International Women’s Day this month, I am deeply moved by how MTN promotes women’s inclusion and equality. I am the third female one-day CEO out of seven champions so far, which shows how inclusive the competition has become,” she said.
Through initiatives such as the mPulse Spelling Bee, MTN Nigeria said it remains committed to promoting education, digital literacy, and leadership opportunities for young Nigerians, while supporting gender balance in leadership and innovation.
