The President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Toke Aka, has emphasized that the future of mind games lies in the hands of young people.
He made this statement during the NSF’s Take Scrabble To School Initiative event at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, over the weekend.
“The future of mind games belongs to the vast youth population, and schools are the best places to engage them, giving them an experience they will cherish for a lifetime,” Aka said.
He highlighted the success of the initiative, revealing that over 75% of universities and higher institutions in Nigeria have already adopted the program, with more expected to join in the coming months.
As part of efforts to expand the initiative, Aka donated four complete scrabble boards and tables to the newly established Ahmadu Bello University Scrabble Club.
The university’s Sports Director, Dr. Danlami Isa, received the equipment and expressed gratitude for the support, noting that it would encourage more students to take up the sport.
During Aka’s two-day visit, the newly formed ABU Scrabble Club held its first mini open tournament, attracting 22 players. A total prize pool of ₦30,000 was shared among the winners.
The NSF President used the occasion to call on scrabble stakeholders to support the Take Scrabble To School Initiative by introducing the sport to schools in their local communities.
“Other African countries are developing their game. As the leaders in this field, we must expand our player base and strengthen our presence to maintain our leadership status,” Aka said.