Tomisin Olawepo-Hashim, a 13-year-old Nigerian student living in the UK, has secured a spot in the prestigious British Council National Chinese Speaking Competition finals.
The announcement came from her school’s website, praising Olawepo-Hashim’s “exceptional talent and diligence” throughout the competition’s rigorous selection process.
“Out of more than 40 schools nationwide, Tomisin emerged victorious from the two-week heats,” the statement reads. “Her dedication and outstanding linguistic skills have earned her a place in the final round. We at Benenden School are incredibly proud and wish Tomisin the best of luck as she competes for top honors.”
Olawepo-Hashim, who actively uses LinkedIn, describes herself as passionate about human rights, public speaking, performing arts, and global studies. Sharing her excitement on the platform, she wrote:
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be a finalist in the National Chinese Bridge Speaking Competition! I’m so excited I could dance all day!”
She further elaborated on the competition, stating, “Many teenagers from across the UK participated, delivering two-minute speeches in Mandarin, answering questions, and translating sentences. It wasn’t just about age, but how long we’ve been learning Chinese. There were older teens who seemed quite confident, but I held my own too! I’m grateful to God for this opportunity and a huge thanks to my amazing Chinese teacher and my mom, Funmi Adewara! I promise to make you all proud!”