Governor Diri boosts cash awards for scrabble tournament, promotes its adoption in Bayelsa educational institutions

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Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has announced an increase in the prize money for the Diri National Scrabble Classic.

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Speaking during the closing ceremony of the sixth edition on Sunday night in Yenagoa, the state capital, an impressed Diri announced that the winner of the Masters category in the next edition would receive N5 million, while the total prize money would increase from N20 million to N40 million.

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The Bayelsa governor also directed the Commissioners for Sports and Education to work out the modalities for introducing the game into secondary schools in the state, saying it would help develop students’ mental abilities.

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Diri said Scrabble developed his vocabulary, spelling and thinking ability while he was growing up, noting that it is a mind game that builds intellect and strategic thinking.

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He said, “Scrabble is a game I started playing as a youth, and it helped my vocabulary and spelling ability. Today, I am very happy to hear the waves this tournament has made not only in our country but also beyond it, and I like to appreciate all of you who have made the game interesting.

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“Scrabble is a mind game. It is something that I will personally recommend even for our secondary schools, as this is not just a sport; it is also education.

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“The importance of Scrabble cannot be over-emphasised as it makes you think strategically. We will continue to support the game till I leave office.

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“Next year will be the last time I will have this interaction with you. So, in the next edition, the prize money for the Masters winner will be N5 million, and the total prize money will be N40 million.”

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Responding to requests from the President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Engr. Bright Idahosa, Diri promised to facilitate the introduction of Scrabble at the 2028 National Sports Festival scheduled to be hosted by the state and also support Nigerian players participating in the World Youth Scrabble Championship in Kenya this weekend.

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He said the state’s investment in sports was driven by the abundance of talented youths and his administration’s determination to harness their potential through positive engagement.

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“We have the hosting rights for the 2028 National Sports Festival, and the practice is that, as host, you can introduce some new games, and Scrabble will be part of it. We will also support those going to Kenya as requested.

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“We have a lot of talented youths and sports is one way to develop them. We are among the top sporting states in Nigeria, and that is why we are investing in sports to develop our talents.”

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In his remarks, Idahosa, said Scrabble brought global attention to Nigeria after the country won the world championship in 2015, adding that the game had continued to gain national and international prominence.

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He said the NSF was profoundly grateful to Diri for his unrelenting support for the game, noting that Nigeria remained the best Scrabble-playing nation in Africa and the world.

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Idahosa also praised the governor, whom he described as a silent achiever, while highlighting some of his infrastructure projects in the state.

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The Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, described Scrabble as a mind sport deserving greater support and recognition.

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He also said the 2028 National Sports Festival would be the best ever hosted in the country, adding that work on the 30,000-capacity and 15,000-capacity stadia was progressing steadily and would be completed on schedule.

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Also speaking, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said this year’s edition recorded the highest number of registered players in any Scrabble tournament in the country, with over 300 participants, while also offering the highest prize money so far.

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Alabrah appreciated Diri for his support for Scrabble, saying it had redefined and increased youths’ interest in the game across Nigeria.

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He said the state association, alongside the NSF, would work towards making the next edition an international tournament, noting that the just-concluded competition featured participants from Ghana.

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He added that the tournament recorded several innovations, including online registration, online score recording and live streaming, which enabled a global audience to follow the event.

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Abdulmimin Jimoh emerged champion of the Masters category, winning the N2 million prize and a trophy, while Bayelsa-born Felix Igolukumo won the Intermediate category with N1.2 million and a trophy. His compatriot, Godwin Angoye, emerged winner of the Open category, receiving N700,000 and a trophy.

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For the third time, Oladokun Esan won the Veterans category, earning N900,000 and a trophy, while Godwin Joseph claimed the Students category title with a N150,000 prize and a trophy.

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Each category produced between 10 and 15 prize winners, while the governor announced a special gift of N1 million each to seven-year-old Abdulsalam Yusuf from Kwara State and nine-year-old Bayelsa-born Elizabeth Fun-ere.

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The high point of the event was an exhibition match between the NSF president and Governor Diri, which the governor won.

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