Ado Salisu
The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) has commended the National Sports Commission (NSC) for its strong leadership and sustained support, describing the commission as a key driver of the rapid growth and global success of scrabble in the country.
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NSF President, Engineer Bright Idahosa, gave the commendation in Abuja after a technical and strategic meeting with the NSC leadership led by its Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Honourable Bukola Olopade.
Idahosa disclosed that the meeting produced a comprehensive blueprint that will guide the development of scrabble in Nigeria over the next 12 months while also shaping the long-term future of the sport.
He described the engagement as timely and strategic, noting that it has positioned the federation to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiatives for Nigeria Sports Economy (RHINSE).
“This meeting is not just timely; it has opened a platform for us as a federation to key into the Renewed Hope Initiatives for Nigeria Sports Economy and make scrabble more economically rewarding,” Idahosa said.
The NSF president acknowledged that the NSC’s support to scrabble predates his administration, citing several international competitions where Nigeria’s participation was funded by the commission.
“Even before I came in as president of NSF, the National Sports Commission has been supporting us — from our trips to Kenya for the African Youth Scrabble Championship, to Malaysia for the World Youth Championship, and the World Championship in Ghana,” he stated.
Key issues discussed at the meeting included the expansion of domestic competitions, deeper grassroots engagement, as well as aggressive marketing and sponsorship strategies aimed at strengthening the economic value of the sport.
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Idahosa noted that working with administrators who understand the sports sector makes implementation easier.
“When you work with leaders like Mallam Shehu Dikko and Honourable Bukola Olopade, who understand sports very deeply, it becomes easier to translate plans into reality,” he added.
Nigeria’s optimism is buoyed by recent outstanding performances on the global stage. Team Nigeria ended the 2025 season in Accra on a high note, winning the World English Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) Best Country award, finishing ahead of host Ghana and Kenya, and reclaiming the title from the United States.
The country’s youth players also recorded remarkable success. At the African Youth Scrabble Championships in Kenya, Prestige Archibong won the Under-19 title, while Sophia Ekeruche dominated the Under-15 category without dropping a single game.
Ekeruche later crowned her season by winning the Best Female Youth title at the World Youth Championship in Malaysia, where Abdulqudos Olawale Aliu finished second in the male category.
The NSC leadership has expressed determination to build on these achievements ahead of the 2026 season.
Looking forward, Idahosa confirmed that the federation would prioritise two major tournaments this year — the World Youth Scrabble Championship in Kenya and the African Scrabble Championship in Monrovia, Liberia.
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He urged stakeholders to remain united to sustain Nigeria’s dominance in the mind sport.
“All stakeholders must sing from the same songbook for Nigeria to remain number one in Africa and the world in scrabble,” Idahosa said.