MTN Spelling Bee Round 1 Is Over — 3,000 Students Move to Round 2, Here’s Exactly What Happens Next

Round One of the 2026 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee closed on October 4, and attention now shifts to the MTN mPulse Spelling Bee Round 2. MTN says 3,000 students will be shortlisted for the second online round, with 500 selected from each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Round Two is scheduled for October 12 to October 18. It is not a fresh open registration stage: only students shortlisted from Round One can participate. Candidates must use the same mPulse student login used for their first-round attempt.

What Shortlisted Students Will Face in Round 2

Round Two contains 20 spelling questions. Each question includes information such as the word’s definition and origin, and the candidate has 20 seconds to provide the spelling. MTN says the words will be tougher than those used in Round One and the quiz can only be taken once.

That makes preparation and internet stability important. Students should use a reliable device and connection, remove distractions and avoid beginning the actual quiz until they are ready to finish it in one sitting. MTN’s rules say multiple attempts or attempts using different numbers can lead to disqualification.

Where students finish Round One with the same score, MTN says the earlier submission time can determine who ranks higher for shortlisting. That means not every student with an identical score is guaranteed a Round Two invitation.

After Round Two, the field will be reduced from 3,000 to 60 students — 10 from each geopolitical zone. Those 60 will proceed to physical regional competitions in Port Harcourt, Abeokuta and Abuja. The regional semi-final period runs from October 31 to November 14.

The regional contests then narrow the competition to 20 students for the Lagos grand finale on November 28. MTN says seven finalists will come from the Port Harcourt regional contest, seven from Abeokuta and six from Abuja, subject to age/document verification.

The 2026 Prizes Are Much Bigger Than a Trophy

The national winner receives a ₦5 million educational grant, a laptop, smartphone, mPulse Face of the Year recognition and the opportunity to serve as MTN Nigeria CEO for a Day. The winner’s teacher receives ₦500,000.

The first runner-up receives a ₦2.5 million educational grant plus devices, while the second runner-up receives ₦1.5 million. Students in fourth to tenth positions receive ₦500,000 educational grants each, and eleventh to twentieth positions receive ₦200,000 each. The winner’s school is also due to receive 10 laptops, 10 MTN 5G routers and a ₦10 million flagship gift.

Students and parents should use the official MTN mPulse Spelling Bee page and mPulse student platform for qualification messages and Round Two access. MTN lists mtn.mpulse@mtn.com for competition questions.

For anyone shortlisted, the immediate focus should be simple: keep the same login, practise tougher words, secure a stable connection and be ready between October 12 and 18. The second round is where the competition moves from thousands of online entrants toward the 60 students who will spell on stage.