Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has declared an enhancement to the cash rewards for the Diri National Scrabble Classic.
Speaking during the grand finale of the sixth staging on Sunday night in Yenagoa, the state capital, a delighted Diri revealed that the champion of the Masters division in the upcoming edition would earn N5 million, while the overall prize pool would expand from N20 million to N40 million.
The Bayelsa governor also instructed the Commissioners for Sports and Education to formulate the framework for implementing the word game across secondary schools in the state, remarking that it would assist in strengthening pupils’ cognitive capacity.
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.
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.
“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.
“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.”
Replying to appeals from the President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Engr. Bright Idahosa, Diri pledged to assist in featuring Scrabble at the 2028 National Sports Festival slated to be staged by the state and also back Nigerian competitors featuring in the World Youth Scrabble Championship in Kenya this weekend.
He stated that the state’s funding for athletics was motivated by the wealth of gifted young people and his government’s resolve to channel their abilities through constructive activities.
“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.
“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.”
In his address, Idahosa observed that Scrabble earned international recognition for Nigeria after the country captured the world title in 2015, stating that the sport has steadily secured broader national and global stature.
He noted that the NSF was deeply thankful to Diri for his steadfast backing of the sport, highlighting that Nigeria remains the premier Scrabble-playing country across Africa and globally.
