The first South East Scrabble Championship which officially commenced in Umuahia on Wednesday has come to an end as Abia Shines, winning 18 games out of the 22 games played among top players from across the South-East.
Representing the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, the permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Mrs. Jane Maxwell, commended the participants for their focus and determination.
“The players were focused and determined to win. Scrabble is a mind game, and I’m impressed by their level of thinking,” Jane said.
She further encouraged participants to see the competition as more than just a contest.
“It’s not only about winning. It’s also an opportunity to build friendships, connect with others,” she added.
The Director of Sports, Obioma George, thanked the athletes and highlighted the state’s growing reputation as a center for sporting activities.
He noted that the state had hosted several major competitions in recent months, including regional and national events across different sports.
“In January, we hosted the Southeast Shooting Championship. In March, we hosted the Southeast Dart Championship and the National Under-12 and Under-15 Handball Championship. Now in April, we’ve hosted Scrabble, and in the coming months, we will also host boxing and para-powerlifting,” he said.
He noted that hosting these competitions has enabled the state to discover and nurture young talents who are already excelling at higher levels.
“All these events are giving us an advantage. The talents we have discovered are being trained, and they are already making the state proud,” George said.
He further thanked the governor for his support, noting that the governor’s support is driving the development of young people through sports.
George commended the contributions of young people and the media in advancing sports development within the state.
“We thank the youths for their interest in sports and the media for helping to showcase our activities to the world,” he noted.
The Vice President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Lovejoy Ezinna, praised the government for supporting the development of scrabble, particularly among young players.
“The government’s support has made a big difference. We started training young players, and they have already made an impact by winning gold medals at national events,” he said.
He described Scrabble as a tool for intellectual growth and family bonding.
“Scrabble is a mind game that builds intelligence. If families make it a habit, it will help children grow mentally and strengthen family relationships,” he said.
He further revealed plans to expand training programmes and introduce an online platform, ” Scrabble School,” to connect and train people interested in learning the game.
“We want to make Scrabble accessible to everyone, through structured programmes and coaching, more people can get involved and benefit from the game,” he added.
The Abia State Head Coach for Scrabble, Mr. Azu Neighbor expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the event and the high level of talent displayed.
“What we have here are some of the best players in the Southeast. I was surprised with the kind of words they were all forming.
“This competition will help prepare them for the national tournament coming up soon,” he said.
He added that the state has recorded steady progress in scrabble development, especially with increased support from the government.
“We have been improving over time. Since the introduction of the secondary school games, we have discovered raw talents and taken them to national youth competitions,” he stated.
He highlighted the recent achievements, noting that the state has consistently returned from competitions with medals.
“In recent tournaments, we have won gold and silver medals, and this year alone, we came back with seven silver medals. We are confident that with continued support, we will achieve even more,” he said.
