Lagos State Government to host African scrabble champion

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

Lagos State Government through the State Sports Commission will on Wednesday, November, 23, 2022 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, celebrate one of it’s own, Enoch Tochukwu Nwali the recently crowned African Scrabble Champion at a special ceremony.
The Chairman of Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association, Engineer Dipo Akanbi told newstap.com that the occasion will be attended by the Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku.
Aiyepeku, a Chemical Engineer and a banker is a passionate and consumate sports administrator. It’s note worthy to know that he will be hosting and celebrating Nwali a 300 level student of Health Education of the University of Lagos a school he bagged his first degree from.
Another big name that will be part of the celebration is the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan.
Other notable sports personalities and Scrabble lovers will also grace the occasion.
Akanbi explained that the reception and celebration is one of the many ways the State Governor and the good people of Lagos want to say a big thank you to Enoch Tochukwu Nwali for bringing honour and prestige to the State and Nigeria through his dexterity on the Scrabble board in far away Lusaka, Zambia last month when he brushed aside 85 other top players from ten countries to win the 14th edition of the African Scrabble Championship.
The 26 year old Nwali fondly called Cohen was also part of ‘Team Nigeria’ squad that won the maiden edition of the West Africa Scrabble Championship in Accra, Ghana in May this year.
On that occasion, he came second behind Nigeria’s Eta Paul Karo and Nwali is currently among the top ten Scrabble players in the world based on the latest WESPA rating.
Currently ranked number one in the latest Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) rating, Nwali stunned the Scrabble World in 2019 when he came 5th at the World Championship, becoming the second player ever to attain such height by any African in the history of the game of words and mind.
We gathered that the Lagos State Government is expected to reward Enoch Tochukwu Nwali who is from Ebonyi State with cash during the reception.
“Tribe, religion or ethnic background don’t count as long as Lagos is concerned. Any athlete who is in Lagos and is doing his/ her very best to project Sport, Lagos and Nigeria to the World shall be honoured and equally rewarded.” Engineer Akanbi stated.
Venue of the event is wearing a new look already as workers are putting finishing touches to the decoration.
Nwali won 25 games and a draw with a cumulative points of plus 2023 to win the African Scrabble Championship ahead of two other members of ‘Team Nigeria’ to the event.
Former World Champion and two time African Champion Wellington Jighere came second while Prince Omosefe was third on the the podium.
After the presentation ceremony, Nwali, the new African King alongside friends of scrabble will be treated to a sumptuous lunch at Sports Shaq and Bar in Surulere.