Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
Enoch Nwali has emerged winner of the Masters category of the third edition of Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Championship which ended last night in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The Ebonyi State player who is the current African Champion recorded 12 wins at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in the Bayelsa State capital with a plus 705 cumulative spread to win the trophy and 500 thousand Naira prize money.
The 26 years Champion said he was excited as he gets ready to do the nation proud at the 2023 World Scrabble Championship in Las Vegas, United States later this year.
Nwali took over from Nsikak Etim who won the second edition with 12 wins plus 1082 cumulative to win last year’s edition.
Ojior Osikhena won the veteran category while Clement Ijegbulem won the open category.
Adeleke John, a senior secondary school 3 student of Federal Government College, Odi, Bayelsa State retained the title he won last year in the students’ event with a spread of +524 ahead of Edide Perowei and August Benharry to cart home fifty thousand Naira Prize money.
Vera Zini emerged champion in the new event tagged the female category.
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen.Douye Diri while declaring the championship close, reaffirmed government’s commitment in using sports as a tool to engage the youths and take their minds from crime and criminality.
The Governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo call for multinationals and international oil companies and the organized private sector to invest in sports development.
He explained that with the exploits of the likes of Olympic silver medalist, Blessing Oborududu and other wrestlers as well as Bayelsa Queens who successfully retained their Nigeria Women’s Federation Cup title and finished second in the Premier League, it was clear that the State was on the path to greatness in Sports.
The governor urged the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association and Federation to work hand in glove to sustain the championship even after his administration.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Chief Daniel Igali represented by the Director of Sports Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi said he was elated to see all the nations scrabble stars converge on Yenagoa for the Governor Diri Championship.
He noted that the goal of the State government was to make Bayelsa the hub of sports in the country.
President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Engineer Olobatoke Aka, commended the Governor and the Deputy, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, for sponsoring the national championship for the third consecutive year.
Engineer Aka said the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Championship served as a training ground and preparation for Nigeria’s contingent to the World Scrabble Championship scheduled for Las Vegas, United States from July 22-26, 2023.
Also, chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble National Association, Mr Daniel Alabrah, noted that the championship underscored the attention accorded to sports in the last three years of the Douye Diri administration, stating that the competition has become a launchpad to discover scrabble super stars in Nigeria.
He appreciate the Governor for sponsoring the tournament and urged the corporate world to take a cue to fund and support the growth of scrabble in the country.
In an interview, the winner of the masters category, Enoch Nwali said he was delighted to be crowned champion among galaxies of stars across Africa.
