The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) has praised the Nationwide Sports activities Fee (NSC) for its management and sustained assist, describing it as a significant catalyst in accelerating the expansion and international success of scrabble within the nation.
READ ALSO: Finidi George: NPFL Gamers Naturally Defend Extra on Away Grounds
NSF President, Engineer Brilliant Idahosa, spoke in Abuja after a technical and strategic assembly with the management of the NSC, led by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director Common, Honourable Bukola Olopade.
Based on Idahosa, the assembly produced a complete blueprint that may information scrabble growth over the subsequent 12 months and form the game’s long-term future in Nigeria.
He described the engagement as well timed and strategic, noting that it has positioned the federation to align totally with the Renewed Hope Initiatives for Nigeria Sports activities Financial system (RHINSE) of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This assembly is not only well timed, it opens a platform for us as a federation to key into the Renewed Hope Initiatives for Nigeria Sports activities Financial system and make scrabble extra economically rewarding,” Idahosa stated.
The NSF president additionally acknowledged that the NSC’s assist predates his administration, citing worldwide competitions the place Nigeria’s participation was backed by the fee.
“Even earlier than I got here in as President of NSF, the Nationwide Sports activities Fee has been supporting us — from our journeys to Kenya for the African Youth Scrabble Championship, to Malaysia for the World Youth Championship, and the World Championship in Ghana,” he added.
Key areas highlighted in the course of the assembly embody the enlargement of home competitions, wider grassroots engagement, and aggressive advertising and sponsorship drives geared toward strengthening the game’s financial worth.
Idahosa emphasised that working with sports activities directors who perceive the sector makes execution simpler.
“Once you work with leaders like Mallam Shehu Dikko and Honourable Bukola Olopade, who perceive sports activities very deeply, it turns into simpler to translate plans into actuality,” he stated.
Nigeria’s confidence going into the brand new part is buoyed by excellent performances on the worldwide stage.
Staff Nigeria ended the 2025 season on a excessive observe in Accra, successful the World English Scrabble Gamers Affiliation Championship (WESPAC) Greatest Nation award, ending forward of host Ghana and Kenya, and reclaiming the title from the USA.
The nation’s youth gamers additionally shone brightly. On the African Youth Scrabble Championships in Kenya, Status Archibong received the U-19 title, whereas Sophia Ekeruche dominated the U-15 class with out dropping a single recreation.
Ekeruche later topped her season by successful the Greatest Feminine Youth title on the World Youth Championship in Malaysia, the place Abdulqudos Olawale Aliu completed second within the male class.
NSC management has expressed a powerful want to construct on these successes heading into 2026 and past.
Trying forward, Idahosa confirmed that the federation will give prime precedence to 2 main occasions this yr: the World Youth Scrabble Championship in Kenya and the African Scrabble Championship in Monrovia, Liberia.
He concluded with a name for unity throughout the board, stressing that collective effort stays key to sustained dominance.
“All stakeholders should sing from the identical songbook for Nigeria to remain as Africa and the world’s primary within the thoughts sport,” Idahosa stated.
