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Tag: Nigeria Scrabble Federation

  • NSF president, Engineer Toke heaps praises on the Nigeria sporting media

    NSF president, Engineer Toke heaps praises on the Nigeria sporting media

    The President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Toke Aka, says all their sponsors, associates, partners, players including the media are their Sports Personality of the Year the 2023 and beyond.
    Aka gave this verdict in a chat with your authoritative news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG while reviewing the activities of the Scrabble Federation in the last 12 months and also outlining their plans for 2024.
    “Without our numerous sponsors, associates, partners, players and the media, scrabble would not have flourished in the out going year and we are deeply grateful to them.” The Scrabble encyclopedia said.
    The NSF President says, “Our Grand Patron and Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio, Engineer Ojior Osikhena, Engineer Gbenga Ojofeitimi, Engineer Adowei, Dr. Mrs Winifred Awosika, Samuel Anikoh, Mohammed Abbas, Austin Isiekwe, Dr Musa Olasupo, Chrisland Schools, Adekoyejo Adegbesan the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) President, Frontpage Couture, SM Quartey, Charles Uzamere, Abba Hydara and Haruna Adamu are some of the friends who helped in making the game of words thicker in 2023.”
    “The list of individuals and corporate bodies that have been backing scrabble over the years is pretty long, we at NSF appreciate you all, we cannot thank you enough. Our friends is the media, you are our backbone, thank you so very much and like Oliver Twist we shall keep asking for more.” He added.
    Aka, a former President of the Pan African Scrabble Association also heap praises on the Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri who has opened his door to the scrabble fraternity in the last three years with the staging of the Douye Diri Bayelsa National Open Scrabble Championship.
    Aka, explained that over 99% of the 2023 Scrabble Championships, events within and outside the shores of Nigeria were carried out to the letter. “All the competitions in the NSF calendar were executed except the South South National Open Championship, Words and Wits Champion of Champions and South East Closed that failed to happen this year.”
    He noted that the Zadok National Championship, the NSF Inter Club Challenge, the NSF Annual General Meeting and the Awards and Gala Night that were the curtain raiser of the year changed the face of the game positively and it became the catalyst for other competitions throughout the year.
    That well attended four-in-one event that took place at the Bentley Hotel, Abuja saw Eta Karo become the new holder of the National Green Jacket, Warri Scrabble Club won the club title of the year while Delta State were crown State champions.
    “I’m very elated the a record number of players and States participated in the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State with 8 States registering their name on the medal table at the end of the Games, that for me is a massive boast for the game and it tells you that the future is very bright.“ Aka explained.
    “From the African Youth Scrabble Championship Trophy Tour, the Championship it’s self, the PANASA President’s Cup (PPC), the West African Scrabble Championship (WASC), Nigeria and Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), were a near perfect hosts, all in attendance experienced unique memories that will leave with us and Africa forever. And like I said before, without these individuals and corporate bodies’ support as well as the media, the story will not be sweet to tell.”
    It’s interesting to mention that Team Nigeria won the AYSC, President’s Cup, the West African Scrabble Championship and came second at the World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA despite the challenges the team faced before and during the championship with the funding and traveling arrangement.
    “We are looking forward to a bigger and better 2024 Scrabble Circuit and I hope more sponsors, associates and partners will come onboard and back project like the Inter Collegiate Championship among Universities, Polytechnic, Colleges of Education and other higher institutions of learning which is the future of scrabble in Nigeria.” Engineer Toke Aka stressed.
    Aka, went on to appeal to the ministry of sports to support the Federation and other sporting Federations financially and make strong and workable policies. He also called on other corperate bodies including well meaning individuals with deep pockets to show more love to scrabble and sport generally, stating that sport has the power to transform the economy positively.
     For your information, Engineer Toke Aka was re-elected as an executive member of the World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA), during it’s Congress this year an plus for the game of words and mind in Nigeria and the continent.
  • Nigeria Scrabble Federation releases 2023 revised calendar

    Nigeria Scrabble Federation releases 2023 revised calendar

    The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), revised calendar of activities for 2023 season has been made public.
    The new program and calendar of activities was made public on Tuesday by the Technical Director of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), John Curtis.
    Curtis explained that club and players registration as well as State affiliation fees which started this month will end on the 31st of May.
    The first major event in the 2023 calendar is the third edition of the Emmanuel Egbele Annual Scrabble Tournament in Lagos. The defending Champion, Enoch Tochukwu Nwali will start the defense of the Diadem he won last year on the second of June.
    From Lagos, the scrabble train will move to Abuja for the NSF President Golden Jubilee Championship between the 15th and 17th of June. After the Jubilee Championship, scrabble players will congregate in Benin City, Edo State for Match Day 3 of the MGI League Series on the 24th of June.
    The State Qualifiers for the new look NSF Inter Club Challenge Championship will start also on the 24th of June across the federation. Warri Scrabble Club (WSC), are the defending Champion.
    All eyes will be on current NSF national and Africa number one player, Nsikak Solomon Etim when the first round of games are called in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as the third edition of the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Championship gets under way on first of July.
    Nsikak Etim, a former African Champion is the defending Champion of the Douye Diri Championship which he won at the expense of Champion of Champions and multiple National Sports Festival gold medalist, Olatunde Oduwole and talented, experienced wordsmith Prince Osahon Omosefe.
    It’s a 24 rounds of games Championship that is in five categories, Masters, Intermediate, Opens, Veterans and Student event with over five million naira cash prize on offer.
    The Technical Director of NSF, John Curtis, explained that the tournaments and Championships have been careful planned and position to help members of Team Nigeria heading to the World Championship shape up for the big battle that awaits them from the 22nd to the 26th of July in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
    The Super Special August scrabble activities will begin in the Rock City of Abeokuta with the South West Closed Championship, followed by Egbin Closed and then, the two-in-one PANASA President’s Cup as well as PANASA African Youth Scrabble Championship holding simultaneously in Lekki and Idimu all in Lagos between the 24th to 28th of August.
    Lekki Scrabble Classic will close the month of September and start the month of October. The South South Open National Championship and the Abuja National Open Championship have been scheduled to take place in September too.
    The month of October will be wearing the colours of MGI as the curtain falls on three of it’s events, MGI Premier League Finale, the Parton’s Cup and the MGI Grand Slam. The Premier League finale and the Parton’s Cup comes up on the 6th and 7th while the Grand Slam has been fixed for 14th and 15th of October, all in the Centre of Excellence, Lagos.
    The South East Closed Championship will close the scrabble activities for the month of October. Owerri will host the South East jamming session on the 21st and 22nd.
    Just like August, November is also another loaded month as State Qualifiers for the Inter Club Scrabble Challenge will be rounded off. Janet Adowei Memorial Scrabble Classic (JAMSC) and second edition of the West African Scrabble Championship are the competitions line-up for November.
    The NSF Inter Club Zonal play-off is expected to be decided in December after the Champion of Champions tournament in Benin City put together by Words and Wits Incorporated. Olatunde Oduwole won the last edition.
    The 2022 NSF season ended in a spectacular fashion in March 2023 with the Scrabble Festival in Abuja, which is a four-in-one event. Asaph Zadok National Championship, NSF Inter Club Championship grand finale, Annual General Meeting (AGM), Awards and Gala Night.
  • Muslims urged to uphold values of love as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr – NSF President Engineer Toke Aka

    Muslims urged to uphold values of love as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr – NSF President Engineer Toke Aka

    The President of one of the most active sport Federation in Nigeria, the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Toke Aka, has urged all Muslims in Nigeria and the rest of the world to sustain acts of love and prayer to stay righteous before Allah as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
    Toke Aka, the former president of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), gave this admonition on Friday in his special Eid al-Fitr message and greetings to all Muslims.
    He noted that during Ramadan, Muslims besides fasting, conducted different activities supporting different groups of vulnerable people, a spirit which he said must be maintained.
    “My message is that I wish the entire Muslim community a happy day of Eid al-Fitr, urging them to sustain activities of love, re-examining themselves and approach Allah as well as continuing to work hard as they did along the fasting month,” the hydro Engineer said.
    “Muslims pray, share food, visit one another and that is what will characterise the day. I wish all Nigerians to strive for peace, prosperity and development,” he added.
    It will interest you to know that while fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and an obligation for all adult Muslims, the period ends with Eid-al-fitr, when Muslims gather in different mosques to celebrate with special prayers, hold family get-togethers, among other feasts.
    “As a multi ethnic, religion, political and socio-cultural society, we should use our diversity as a tool for unity and strength. Let continue to work to ensure a better Nigeria for all. Engineer Toke Aka who is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Kadegg Nigeria Limited stressed.
    The President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation, also use the opportunity to encourage all sports loving Nigerians, corporate bodies and the Government to rededicate their efforts in growing SPORT in the country.
    Toke Aka, strongly believes in the power of sports for economic transformation and national development as well as a vehicle for international cooperation.
    The NSF boss, has this message for Nigerians and members of Scrabble Team Nigeria to the forthcoming WESPA Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, “We are going to engrave our name in gold come July during the World Championship, we have done it before and we will do it again.”
    Team Nigeria to the World Scrabble Championship in Las Vegas is loaded with talented, passionate and experienced wordsmith led by former World Champion Wellington Jighere, current African Champion Enoch Tochukwu Nwali, former African Champions like Dennis Ikekeregor, Wale Fashina and Nsikak Solomon Etim.
    Current national Green Jacket holder and West African Champion Eta Paul Oghenekaro, Champion of Champions Olatunde Oduwole, three times African bronze medalist Prince Omosefe, Oluwatimilehin Doko the West African University Games King and Touyo Mayuku the best African female player is also part of Team Nigeria.
  • Nigeria Scrabble Federation name 26 players for World Cup Qualifiers

    Nigeria Scrabble Federation name 26 players for World Cup Qualifiers

    The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), has named a 26 man list for the World Championship Qualifiers which holds this weekend in Sapele, Delta State.
    The list which was made public on Monday, by the NSF is dominated by players from Warri Scrabble Club, Benin Scrabble and Yenagoa Scrabble Club. Warri Scrabble Club has six players, Benin Scrabble Club and Yenagoa Scrabble Club have four players each.
    Apex SC, Central Scrabble Club Abuja, Shell Scrabble Club, Surulere SC, Abeokuta Scrabble Club, Unilag SC, Pyramid Scrabble Club of Lagos and Sapele Scrabble Club are the other Clubs that the players are drawn from.
    23 of the 26 players Invited for the Qualifiers are male while double National Sports Festival gold medalist Malafakumo Best Akpos, Bukunmi Afolayan and Tuoyo Mayuku are the amazons that the made the cut.
    Former African and World Champion, Wellington Jighere, who is the current national number one player as well as the highest ranked African in the world at the moment is the biggest name on the roaster.
    Four other African Champions, current African Champion, Enoch Nwali, two times African Champion, Dennis Ikekeregor, 2004 African Champion, Nsikak Etim and Wale Fashina who won the African Championship in 1998 will be heading to Sapele for the grueling battle to make Team Nigeria squad to the World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA in July.
    Other wordsmith called up for the three day Qualifiers are, current West African Champion, Eta Karo, Doko Oluwatimilehin, Prince Omosefe, Oshevire Avwengha, who captained Team Nigeria to the last African Scrabble Championship in Lusaka, Champion of Champions, Olatunde Oduwole, Emmanuel Umujose, Emmanuel Ofidi, Cyril Umebiye and Okiemute Tega.
    Ben Quickpen, Jimoh Abdulmumin, Ezinore George, Joseph Aniso, Victor Godwin, Hakeem Olaribigbe, David Yuwa, Anthony Odok and Vincent Munanyo completes the 26 man list.
    Players on standby are Precious Igali, Jacob Ryan, James Ewruje and Olufemi Gbadebo.
    The Technical Director, of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), John Curtis, in a press statement made available to newsmen, on Monday, explained that the top twenty players in the NSF ranking along with six wild cards that include female players are part of the list.
    At the end of the three-day Qualifiers, the best ten players will be selected to represent Team Nigeria at the World Championship, in America from the 22nd-26th of July this year.
    We understand that the NSF holds the right for the final selection of Team Nigeria to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA as well as any other international Championships.
    The Technical Director, stated that the trials will last for three days and it’s ten games per day and each player has twenty five minutes per game.
    All invited players for the Qualifiers must have an international passport valid till the 30th of March 2024 and must submit the a squeaky clean, clear and legible photocopy of the data page of their passport to the NSF on or before the 30th of January.
    Invited players are expected to arrive Frank N. Luxury Hotel, 18 Lawrence Road, off Bowen Street, Sapele, Delta State, for the Qualifiers on the 25th of this month, while the trials begins the next day by 8am. The Qualifiers will carry ranking points as it’s an NSF rated event.
    The President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), said that the very best at the end of the grueling trials will be selected based on an indebt summary, analysis, player by player projection, word power and dexterity as well as game strength, coupled with their experience on the board.
    “We are going to the World Championship with our top ten who are the best hands in the game. We are not just going to Las Vegas for the individual title, we are also heading there to defend our team title too.” The Hydro-Engineer said.
    We also gathered that inclusion of any female player in the final team selection will not be coloured by their gender, but the female player or players must merit it.
    Current African Champion, Enoch Tochukwu Nwali, came fifth at the last World Championship in Goa, India in 2019.
    In 2015, Delta State born, current national number one and recently crowded King of the Jungle, Wellington Jighere, became the first African player to win the World Championship crown. He did that in Australia.
    Wellington Jighere
    ✓ Prince Omosefe
    ✓ Wale Fashina
    ✓ Doko Oluwatimilehin
    ✓ Eta Karo
    ✓ Olatunde Oduwole
    ✓ Dennis Ikekeregor
    ✓ Emmanuel Umujose
    ✓ Jimoh Abdulmumin
    ✓ Ben Quickpen
    ✓ Okiemute Tega
    ✓ Ezinore George
    ✓ Aniso Joseph
    ✓ Godwin Victor
    ✓ Emmanuel Ofidi
    ✓ Olaribigbe Hakeem
    ✓ David Yuwa
    ✓ Anthony Odok
    ✓ Munanyo Vincent
  • Nigeria Scrabble Federation to invite players for World Championship

    Nigeria Scrabble Federation to invite players for World Championship

    The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), has concluded plans to hold it qualifiers for the forthcoming World Scrabble Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA in July.
    The Federation is likely to invite about thirty players for the qualifiers.
    The Technical Director, of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), John Curtis, in a press statement made available to journalists, on Tuesday, said the top twenty players in the NSF ranking along with three top female players as well as three wild cards will make the list.
    Curtis, explained that, the yet to named host city for the Qualifiers may likely be giving additional slots of players. The cut off date for selecting the top 20 NSF ranked players is the 22nd of this month.
    Note, that for a player to make the cut, he or she must have played at least 40 NSF rated games between the 1st and 22nd of January, 2023.
    At the end of the three-day Qualifiers, the best ten players will be selected to represent Team Nigeria at the 4th edition of the World Championship, in America from the 22nd-26th of July this year.
    We understand that the NSF holds the right for the final selection of Team Nigeria to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA as well as any other international Championships.
    The Technical Director, stated that the trials will last for three days and it’s ten games per day and each player has twenty five minutes per game instead of the usual twenty minutes.
    Invited players for the Qualifiers must have an international passport valid till the 30th of March 2024 and must submit the a clean, clear and legible photocopy of the data page of their passport to the NSF on 25th of January.
    Invited players are expected to arrive for the Qualifiers on the 25th of this month, while the trials begins the next day by 8am. The Qualifiers will carry ranking points as it’s an NSF rated event.
    The President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Toke Aka, told journalists that the very best at the end of the grueling trials will be selected based on an indebt summary, analysis, player by player projection, word power and dexterity as well as game strength, coupled with their experience on the board.
    “We are going to the World Championship with our top ten who are the best hands in the game. We are not just going to Las Vegas for the individual title, we are also heading there to defend our team title too.” The Hydro-Engineer said.
    We also gathered that inclusion of any female player in the final team selection will not be coloured by their gender, but the female player or players must merit it.
    Current African Champion, Enoch Tochukwu Nwali, came fifth at the last World Championship in Goa, India in 2019.
    In 2015, Delta State born, current national number one and recently crowded King of the Jungle, Wellington Jighere, became the first African player to win the World Championship crown. He did that in Australia.