Scrabble festival ends today as four teams jostle for top prize
By Maxwell Kumoye
After six days of top quality scrabble action at the Asaph Zadok National Championship, the NSF AGM and the NSF Inter Club Championship, the curtains falls on the four-in-one event, tagged Scrabble Festival with the Awards and Gala Night.
It all started with the Asaph Zadok National Championship on Monday, with the very best scrabble players from drawn from the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT.
With 20 wins and a plus 1048 cumulative points from 28 rounds of games, Eta Paul Oghenekaro wearing the colours of Delta State was crowned Champion.
Oghenekaro was crowned Champion at the expense of current African Enoch Tochukwu Nwali in the final game by 401-390. John Aiyedun came third, like Nwali, John Aiyedun are both representing Lagos.
The NSF Annual General Meeting (AGM), took the centre stage on Thursday. Delegates from all part of the country, coaches, players, technical officials, journalists and other scrabble stakeholders graced the AGM that was described by all in attendance as excellent.
That same Thursday, the draw for the NSF Inter Club grand finale was made. Nine Clubs were drawn in three groups of three teams each.
After two days of action, Apex SC of Abuja, Warri SC, Yenagua Scrabble Club, and Benin City Scrabble Club are the teams still in the race for the big prize.
The NSF Scrabble Festival will come to a befitting close with the Awards and Gala Night later today at the banquet hall of Hotel de Bently in Abuja.
The Awards and Gala Night which is the icing on the cake, will be used by the Scrabble Federation, to reward and recognize players, coaches, administrators and sponsors who have distinguished themselves since the current board under the stewardship of Engineer Toke Aka, was elected and inaugurated in 2021.
The recognitions by the NSF which will be an annual event will also be used to appreciate the hard work and support giving to the game of words by key stakeholders over the years.
A talented, multiple award winning top sports broadcaster, Oluwatoyin Ibitoye, is hosting the Awards and Gala Night.
Front-page Couture has designed and produced the Green Jacket for the winner of the Asaph Zadok National Championship who will be decorated during the Gala Night.
The President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Toke Aka, told FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG on Saturday night that, “The 2023 Scrabble Festival has certainly add colour, panache and glamour to the game of words and mind in Nigeria.
“We choose the colour green, for the champions jacket because of its significance to the nation as it symbolizes fruitfulness and productivity.” Aka who is also the Managing Director of kadegg Nigeria Ltd, stated.
Engineer Toke Aka who is also a Kogi High Chief further stated that the Festival will be an annual event to close the Scrabble season going forward and the host city will be rotated among the six geo-sporting zones of the country as the NSF dim fit.
The Ahmadu Bello University graduate, explained that this definitely shall be the new normal for scrabble activity in Nigeria. From grassroots to the centre. It is now time to end last year’s league, and this will be done in grand style.”
