…. As Funding Woes Threaten Participation
The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), has named four players, two male and two females to represent the country at the World Youth Scrabble Championships in Malaysia.
The team will be captained by a serial winner at the youth level, Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu, a multiple gold medal winner at the National Youth Games to Malaysia tagged ‘Prepared to Conquer’ trip.
Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu was part of Team Nigeria to the last World Youth Championship in Sri Lanka where he finished among the top 25 players out of the 134 in attendance despite missing the opening game of Day 2 of the competition.
Another member of Team Nigeria is Prestige Archibong who recently won the U-19 category of the African Youth Scrabble Championships in Kenya.
Another talented wordsmith that made the cut is 2025 African Youth Scrabble Championships U-15 event winners, Sophia Ebube Ekeruche. Ekeruche, the girl from the City of Aquatic Splendor went unbeaten throughout the championship.
Multi national Junior Queen and a key member of Team Nigeria to the just concluded African Youth Scrabble Championships, Joy Eberechukwu Nwabuzor will also be heading to Malaysia.
The President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Olobatoke Aka in an interview with newsmen at the weekend, stated that the team was carefully selected based on their experience, track record, current form and their ability to navigate big Championships.
However, the dreams of these talented players to rock the scrabble world and engrave Nigeria’s name in gold may not materialize as the team is yet to secure the much needed funds for the Championship.
We gathered that the National Sports Commission (NSC), is burning candles at both ends in order to make the trip to Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital possible for the young players.
Nigeria’s last outing in Kenya was funded by the Kwara State government, the NSF, through its President Engineer Olobatoke Aka, Chairman Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association (LSSAMA), Engineer Dipo Akanbi, as well as families of some players.
At that last World Youth Scrabble Championships in Sri Lanka, Nigeria was represented by two players, Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu and Sufyan Boluwatife Olojoku sponsored by the Kwara State Government under the stewardship of His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq.
The Nigeria Scrabble Federation that has spread itself too thin is appealing to well meaning individuals, State Government and corporate bodies to support Team Nigeria in its quest to attend the World Youth Scrabble Championships and make its mark at the global stage.
The World Youth Scrabble Championships starts on the 30th of August and ends on the 1st of September, 2025.
Source/NSF
