Lagos State promises to back Pan African Scrabble Association as AYSC Trophy Tour ends on exciting note
By Maxwell Kumoye
The Lagos phase of the historic Pan African Youth Scrabble Championship Trophy Tour came to a befitting close on Wednesday as the State Government under the dynamic leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, through the Sports Commission received the Dr. Mrs. Winifred Awosika AYSC nickel plated trophy.
The Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Engineer Sola Aiyepeku received the trophy from the President of Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), Adekoyejo Adegbesan, on behalf of the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Conference Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
Sola Aiyepeku, who is also a marketing consultant, promised that the State Government will support the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) and the two-in-one event, the PANASA President’s Cup and the PANASA Youth Championship.
Both events are scheduled to take place in the Centre of Excellence, Lagos between the 24th and 28th of August, 2023.
“On behalf of the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwolu, we are proud that a leading Continental Governing Body of Sport have chosen Lagos, the fifth largest economy in Africa to host these maiden tournaments.” Sola Aiyepeku a former banker stated.
He went further to state that, “It is very rewarding and fulfilling that when someone makes a pledge and days after, you are already fulfilling your pledge. We are grateful and we will back you in the way we can.”
The Centre of Excellence, Lagos State, is one of the leading sporting tourist destination in the world as it has play host to a number of major sporting events in the last sixty years.
“One message I have been preaching for the past 3 decades is that government cannot do everything for us. It is important that we support the government.” He said.
The President of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) Adekoyejo Adegbesan, affectionately called Sheikh said Lagos State was chosen to host both events because of its strategic location, it’s good and friendly business environment, the excellent hospitality industry as well as its rich sporting heritage.
“You know, Lagos State is not just the economy capital of the continent, it’s also has the man-power to handle major multiple international Championships at the same.” The PANASA President added.
The Lagos Trophy Tour started on Tuesday. It’s first port of call was the Chrisland School in Ikeja before the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the title sponsor of the African Youth Scrabble Championship, Dr. Mrs. Winifred Awosika a renowned educational icon.
Over five hundred players and officials from about 25 countries will be in Lagos during the two Pan African Scrabble Association Championships.
Adegbesan, who is a tech expert as well as the Chairman of Ogun State Scrabble Association (OSSA), believes that the Dr. Mrs. Winifred Awosika AYSC Trophy Tour of some selected countries will help spread the gospel of scrabble and accelerate it’s growth and acceptance as a sport that has the capability to sustain its participants economical.
The Trophy Tour which began on the first of May in Accra, Ghana has visited three other cities before landing in Lagos. Eldoret and Nairobi in Kenya hosted the Trophy Tour between the 6th and 9th of this month before Nigeria’s capital Abuja on the 15th.
From Lagos, the Dr. Mrs. Winifred Awosika AYSC Trophy Tour delegation will touch down in Monrovia, Liberia and after Liberia the Trophy Tour will head to two Ugandan cities of Gulu and Kampala.
After the presentation of the trophy, the PANASA President Adegbesan and his team later inspected the Chrisland Schools facilities in Lekki ear marked to host the African Youth Scrabble Championship in August.
