2024 Gateway Games: Ogun State test runs facilities with 2nd Scrabble Festival, expresses satisfaction

Posted : 25 April 2024

The Ogun State government has commended the State Scrabble Association for successfully hosting the National Scrabble Festival, which ended in Ijebu-Ode.

The week-long event, which began on April 15 and ended with a Gala Night, saw the emergence of Enoch Nwali as the winner of the Asaph Zadok individual category, and he was decorated with the iconic Green Jacket. Delta State picked the Team version ahead of Lagos and Ogun States.

The Nigeria Scrabble Federation, which organized the 4-in-1 competition, also held its Annual General Meeting before action shifted to the Inter-Club Challenge. Lagos-based Pyramid Scrabble Club, chaired by Charles Osadolor, with Ayomiposi Akinfemisoye, John Ayedun, Dipo Akanbi, Olawale Ogedengbe, Adegboyega Akintokun, and Oghasaede Omijeh, pulled off a dramatic turnaround on the final day to claim the title.

Ogun State's Oluwatimilehin Doko, the current West African Champion, emerged as the Most Valuable Player of the Inter-Club Challenge and also won the award for the Player with the longest stay in the NSF national rating for 2023.

2023 African Games gold medalist and Ogun State prodigy, Joy Ola, earned the title for the Most Improved Female Player in 2023. Other recipients on the night were Sylver Ikpere and Tega Okiemute, who won the Most Improved Male player and the Player With The Most Rated Games, respectively.

Commissioner of Sports Isiaka Wasiu, who graced the closing ceremony alongside Head of Facilities, Dipo Dina Stadium Gbolahan Okeowo, President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation Toke Aka, and Ogun State Scrabble Association (OSSA) Chairman Adekoyejo Adegbesan, commended players and officials for their conduct during the festival.

As the host of the next National Sports Festival, the commissioner highlighted the support and progress the state was making towards facilities and preparations.

He said hosting the Scrabble Festival was a tacit way of honing the players' skills for the 22nd National Sports Festival.

"In Ogun State, we are committed to sports, and we will ensure our players improve in Scrabble. We will continue our investment and ensure our players continue to dominate nationally and globally."

He continued, "His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun is leaving no stone unturned in our desire to host the 22nd National Sports Festival tagged Gateway Games 2024 by providing infrastructure, sports facilities, and accommodation.

"We are equally engaging stakeholders to ensure the Games are successful and employ technology where necessary."

OSSA Chairman Adekoyejo Adegbesan, on behalf of the executive, thanked Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun for always supporting the body in its quest to develop world-beaters for the state.

He recalled that the Governor's strategic support propelled Sanya Adebola to win a title at last year's World English Language Speaking Scrabble Association Championship (WESPAC), where he stunned all to claim the intermediate category title in the United States of America.

At the continental level, Adebisi Adekansi made history by being the only player to win two gold medals at the 2023 African Games in Ghana.

NSF President Aka, while commending all participants, urged everyone to support the federation as he called on other zones to emulate the South-West, which has been the most virile in active scrabble.

10 states including Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta, Osun, Bayelsa, Kwara, Rivers, and the FCT Abuja participated in the second edition of the festival.

2024 Gateway Games: Ogun State test runs facilities with 2nd Scrabble Festival, expresses satisfaction

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