Scrabble : NSF names Sufyan Olojoku as Team Nigeria Youth Captain

The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), has named Sufyan Olojoku as captain of Team Nigeria to the Pan African Youth Scrabble Championship, in Kenya.

NSF made this known in a statement signed by its spokesperson Maxwell Kumoye, on Friday, in Lagos.

The statement states that Sufyan Olojoku was selected to lead the team because of his calm disposition, experience as well as his friendliness with other members of ‘Team Nigeria’.

Sufyan Olojoku, has been representing Kwara State since 2021, winning a silver medal in NYG 2021, 2 gold and a Silver in 2023 and has represented Nigeria in a World Youth Scrabble Championship in 2024 and African Scrabble Youth Championship finishing 5th on the log.

He is currently seeking admission in KWASU to study Medical Laboratory Science this year after finishing from Government Day Secondary School, Adewole in 2021.

Sufyan Olojoku who was at the last World Youth Scrabble Championship in Sri Lanka last year will be competing in the U-19 category at the Pan African Youth Scrabble Championship.

The ten-man ‘Team Nigeria’ squad will be leaving for the competition on Monday aboard Asky Airline from Lagos.

Four of the players are sponsored by the Kwara State Government, two other players are heading to Nairobi on the bill of Bayelsa State while Lagos, Edo, Niger and Akwa Ibom state are sponsoring one player each.

This is Team Nigeria’s roster to the Championship:

FEMALE
Sophia ⁠Ekeruche
Joy Eberechukwu Nwabuzor
Eliana Igbe

MALE
Saviour Onazi
Hassan Olojoku
Sufyan Olojoku
Abdulqudus Aliu
Khalid Olosun
Prestige Archibong
Damilola Adeleke

The Africa Youth Scrabble Championship (AYSC) is a continental competition for young scrabble enthusiasts, organized by the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA).

The second edition is scheduled to take place in Kenya from August 14th to 17th, 2025, at Brighton International School in Syokimau, Machakos County.

The championship will feature two categories: Under 15 and Under 19, with 150 players from 11 countries expected to participate.

The 2023 African Youth Scrabble Championship was held in Lagos, Nigeria, from August 24th to 28th, at Chrisland School, Lekki.

It featured two categories: Under 15 and Under 19, with participants from Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia, Ghana, and Uganda.

Two Nigerian players, David Ojih and Prestige Archibong, won the U-19 and U-15 titles respectively.

ABOUT THE HOST SCHOOL AND TOWN

Machakos, also called Masaku, is a town in Machakos County, Kenya. Serving as the capital of the county, its urban population was 63,767 as of 2019.

Machakos County is a county of Kenya. Its capital is Machakos. Its largest town is Machakos, the country’s first administrative headquarters.

Brighton International School is a day and boarding school offering both CBC and Cambridge located in Katani, Syokimau.

KEY DETAILS:

★ ORGANIZED BY: Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA)

★ DATES: August 14th – 17th, 2025

★ LOCATION: Brighton International School, Syokimau, Machakos County, Kenya

★ CATEGORIES: Under 15 and Under 19

★ PARTICIPANTS: 150 players from 11 countries are expected

★ FIRST EDITION: Chrisland School, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria in 2023

★ TROPHY TOUR: The championship trophy has toured various African countries to raise awareness, including Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Uganda, and Kenya

★ PRIZES: The top 10 players in each category will receive a share of the $3,225 prize fund, laptops, and tablets

U-19
1 – $1,000 + Trophy + Laptop

2 – $500 + Trophy + Laptop

3 – $300 + Trophy + Tablet

4 – $150

5 – $100

6-10 – Gift bags
…Plus spot prizes

U-15
1 – $500 + Trophy + Laptop

2 – $300 + Trophy + Tablet

3 – $200 + Trophy + Tablet

4 – $100

5 – $75

6-10 – Gift bags
… Plus spot prizes