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The Nigerian Police Band and the students of Chrisland School Abuja, the title sponsors of the 1st African Youth Scrabble Championship (AYSC), were on hand to receive the trophy as it arrived Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Monday.
The Secretary General of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Ejiro Thukson, eight years old scrabble WizKid, Saviour Onazi and the Chrisland School team led by it’s Principal Adenariwo were on hand to receive the Nickel plated Dr. Mrs. Winifred Awosika AYSC trophy.
A guard of honour was mounted by the elite Chrisland School to welcome the Africa Youth Scrabble Championship Trophy and after the Airport and School receptions, the trophy and the delegation that include the President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Toke Aka, President Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), Adekoyejo Adegbesan, was received by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare.
And in a bid to encourage young talented kids to embrace the game of words, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, has added Saviour Onazi, the Junior Scrabble Champion into the 10 youths Talent Hunt Programme. The Minister Sunday Dare, said a one-off payment will be made to support his education and from time to time, the Ministry will honour requests from the NSF pertaining to him and his progress in the sport.
The Trophy Tour moves to Nigeria’s economic capital Lagos on Tuesday. Trophy is expected to arrive Lagos by 10:15am and it will move to some selected Chrisland Schools.
The Pan African Scrabble Association delegation led by it’s President Adekoyejo Adegbesan, will pay a courtesy visit to Dr. Mrs Winifred Awosika, the founder of Chrisland Schools, the title sponsors of the Pan African Youth Scrabble Championship (AYSC).
The Nigeria Trophy Tour ends on Wednesday. The tour started from Accra, Ghana, it later moved to two Kenyan cities, Eldoret and Nairobi before hitting Nigeria and after, it will land in Liberia and Uganda.
President of Pan Africa Scrabble Association (PANASA), Adekoyejo Adegbesan, who has been on the Trophy Tour with a former World Champion, Wellington Jighere said Monday’s event underlines the significance of scrabble in human development.
“We are glad with the impact the Dr Winifred Awosika Africa Youth Scrabble Championship Trophy Tour has made on many communities and groups including school children in Africa. The Sports Ministers of the countries it has gone to in the past weeks have expressed strong support for the development of scrabble as a competitive sport.”
“So for the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, to receive the trophy as we brought it to Nigeria which is hosting these two new tournaments in August, this signifies the new status and heights scrabble has climbed to in the country especially among our youths.” He said.
Over a hundred and twenty young talented scrabble kids from 12 African countries are expected to compete for honours in two categories U-15 and U-19 at the maiden edition of the Pan African Youth Scrabble Championship scheduled to hold in Idimu-Lagos between the 24th and 28th of August.
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