Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to developing Scrabble in Nigeria, announcing plans to introduce the mind sport in secondary schools across the state.
He made the promise while speaking at the closing ceremony of the 6th Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Classic at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa on Sunday night.
Governor Diri commended the Nigeria Scrabble Federation and the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association for sustaining the championship, which he described as the country’s biggest platform for the strategic board game.
The governor, who played an exhibition match against Nigeria Scrabble Federation President, Engineer Bright Idahosa, said the game sharpened vocabulary and analytical thinking in his younger days.
Noting that Scrabble promotes strategic thinking, creativity and intellectual development, Governor Diri directed the Commissioners for Sports Development and Education to develop modalities for a secondary schools Scrabble tournament in the state.
The initiative, he said, is aimed at exposing students to the cognitive benefits of the game and nurturing future champions.
The governor also appreciated players, officials and visitors from across Nigeria and beyond for choosing Bayelsa as host. He pledged continued investment in Scrabble as a tool for youth empowerment and human capital development.
He congratulated winners in all categories and assured the NSF of Bayelsa’s readiness to host an even bigger 7th edition of the championship in 2027.
The Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Classic continues to grow in stature and has reinforced Bayelsa’s reputation as a leading destination for mind sports in Nigeria.
