29/05/2026
Word Onyx Junior Challenge Season 2 crowns champions in thrilling Kuje spelling showdown
The atmosphere at Cyrus International School, Kuje, was filled with excitement, applause, and anticipation on May 7, 2026, as 80 young contestants gathered for the Word Onyx Junior Challenge Season 2, a spelling and vocabulary competition designed to promote literacy, confidence, and creative thinking among children.
The event brought together pupils from different schools across Kuje and surrounding communities, with parents, teachers, coaches, and friends filling the hall to support the contestants throughout the competition.
Hosted by two members of the Word Onyx team and supervised by two judges, the challenge featured three intense stages, each testing different language and word-building abilities using the innovative Word Onyx educational card system.
Beyond the competition itself, the event also featured entertainment and creative performances including storytelling, two poems, singing presentations by children from the Word Onyx Club, and dancing performances that kept the audience engaged throughout the day.
*Elimination round: Word Onyx Multiplex*
The competition began with the elimination stage known as Word Onyx Multiplex. Contestants were presented with Word Onyx spelling cards and tasked with writing as many valid English words as possible within the allotted time.
The round tested vocabulary strength, speed, creativity, and spelling accuracy. After a highly competitive session, only 20 contestants advanced to the semi-final stage.
*Semi-final: Spell It With Word Onyx*
The semi-final round introduced a more advanced challenge titled Spell It With Word Onyx.
During the round, Word Onyx cards displayed on the screen served as clues while contestants selected card pairs and attempted to decipher hidden words using hints such as the meaning, origin, and part of speech.
Participants then stood before the audience to confidently pronounce and spell the words aloud. The audience responded with cheers and applause as contestants demonstrated impressive composure, vocabulary knowledge, and public speaking skills.
At the end of the round, eight outstanding finalists emerged.
*Final round: Word Onyx Single Word Play*
The grand finale featured the Word Onyx Single Word Play, where finalists were shown sets of Word Onyx cards displayed on a screen.
Contestants first had to identify and write their strongest possible word from the card combinations. They then stepped before the audience to pronounce the word and spell it correctly.
Scores were determined not only by correctness, but also by the value of the words formed, adding an extra layer of strategy and excitement to the competition.
One finalist was disqualified during the round after writing one word on the answer sheet but pronouncing a different word before the audience, highlighting the strict adherence to the competition rules.
Schools represented in the final included Cyrus International School, JSS Pegi, Excellent Gifted Elite Wisdom Academy (EGEWA), Brave Leaders Academy Kuje, and TFour Stars Creative Academy.
*Winners announced*
After an exciting final showdown, Melvin Odimegu of Excellent Gifted Elite Wisdom Academy (EGEWA) emerged as the overall champion, winning the grand prize of ₦100,000.
Jesutofunmi Alabi of TFour Stars Creative Academy secured second place and received ₦50,000, while Shafe Jasmine of Brave Leaders Academy Kuje finished in third place, earning ₦25,000. Heritage Oluwadarasimi of Cyrus International School was awarded the winner of Word Onyx App Challenge for March and April 2026.
Each winning school was also presented with a plaque award in recognition of their outstanding performance and participation in the competition.
The winners were celebrated with loud cheers from supporters, classmates, and teachers.
*More than a competition*
Beyond the prizes and trophies, the event highlighted the growing impact of Word Onyx in promoting literacy and educational entertainment among children.
Organizers described the competition as part of a broader mission to help children improve spelling, vocabulary development, confidence, and critical thinking through engaging gameplay.
Guests at the event also enjoyed refreshments and entertainment, making the competition both educational and memorable for everyone in attendance.
With the success of Season 2 in Kuje, anticipation is already growing for future editions of the Word Onyx Junior Challenge across other locations in Abuja.
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https://youtu.be/Be3jUbmxbbY?si=-ESsl2rhxW5x_52g
