Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has directed the introduction of Scrabble in secondary schools across the state.
Diri said the game would help develop the mental capacity of students. The governor gave the directive on Sunday night in Yenagoa during the closing ceremony of the sixth edition of the Diri National Scrabble Classic. He said Scrabble improved his vocabulary, spelling and strategic thinking when he was young.
He said, “Scrabble is a game I started playing as a youth and it helped my vocabulary and spelling ability. It is a mind game that makes you think strategically.
It is not just a sport, it is also education. I will personally recommend it for our secondary schools.”Diri also announced an increase in the prize money for the tournament from N20m to N40m, adding that the winner of the Masters category in next year’s edition would receive N5m.
He said, “Next year will be the last time I will have this interaction with you as governor. So, the prize money for the Masters winner will be N5m and the total prize will be N40m.
We will continue to support the game till I leave office.”The governor said the state would push for the inclusion of Scrabble in the 2028 National Sports Festival to be hosted by Bayelsa.He was responding to a request by the President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Bright Idahosa.Diri also pledged support for Nigerian players billed for the World Youth Scrabble Championship in Kenya.He said the state’s investment in sports was to engage youths and develop their talents.Idahosa said Nigeria’s victory at the world championship in 2015 brought global attention to the country and described Nigeria as the best Scrabble-playing nation in Africa and the world.
The Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, described Scrabble as a mind sport and said preparations for the 2028 NSF were on course.
The Chairman, Bayelsa State Scrabble Association, Daniel Alabrah, said the sixth edition attracted over 300 players, the highest in the country, with participants from Ghana.
The governor gave N1m each to seven-year-old Abdulsalam Yusuf from Kwara and nine-year-old Elizabeth Fun-ere from Bayelsa.
Abdulmumin Jimoh won the Masters category with N2m, Felix Igolukumo won the Intermediate with N1.2m, Godwin Angoye won the Opens with N700,000, Oladokun Esan won the Veterans with N900,000 and Godwin Joseph won the Students category with N150,000.
