President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Bright Idahosa, has applauded the National Sports Commission (NSC) for its renewed commitment to the development of scrabble, saying recent initiatives by the Commission have provided fresh impetus for the growth of the sport across the country.
Idahosa particularly welcomed the inclusion of scrabble in the maiden National Intermediate Games held in Lagos, describing the move as a clear indication that the Commission is embracing a more inclusive approach to sports development and talent discovery.
According to him, the competition has created an important pathway for young players to showcase their abilities while helping to build a stronger foundation for the future of the game.
He said “For many years, scrabble has continued to produce results for Nigeria at the continental and global levels. Seeing the sport included in the National Intermediate Games is a strong statement that every sport capable of bringing glory to the nation deserves support and recognition”.
The NSF President noted that the federation is encouraged by the direction of sports administration under the current leadership of the National Sports Commission and believes the sport stands to benefit from ongoing reforms.
He expressed confidence that the growing recognition being accorded to scrabble would strengthen efforts to secure its return to the National Sports Festival in Enugu.
“The National Sports Festival should reflect the full spectrum of sports in which Nigeria excels. Scrabble has earned its place through years of consistent international success, and we remain hopeful that the sport will once again be part of the festival programme,” Idahosa stated.
The scrabble administrator also paid tribute to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Honourable Bukola Olopade, for what he described as his open-minded and progressive leadership style.
He said “Since taking charge, Honourable Olopade has demonstrated a genuine desire to create opportunities across the sporting ecosystem. His willingness to listen, engage and support federations has been refreshing and has given many sports renewed confidence,” .
Idahosa further commended the NSC leadership for supporting Team Nigeria’s participation at the Causeway Scrabble Championship in Thailand, describing the intervention as timely and impactful.
He added “International competitions are vital to the growth of our athletes. The support we received in ensuring Nigeria’s presence at the Causeway Championship showed that the Commission appreciates the value of exposing athletes to elite competition and helping them compete with the best in the world,” .
Drawing attention to the sport’s impressive record, Idahosa noted that scrabble remains one of Nigeria’s most successful sports on the world stage.
He said “Nigeria has produced world champions in only a handful of sports. Scrabble is one of them. That achievement alone should encourage greater investment from both the public and private sectors,” .
“The opportunities within scrabble are enormous. With the right partnerships and sustained support, we can develop more champions, create opportunities for young people and continue flying Nigeria’s flag proudly across the world.”
Idahosa reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to expanding grassroots participation, strengthening domestic competitions and working closely with the National Sports Commission to sustain Nigeria’s dominance in global scrabble.
He expressed optimism that the partnership between the NSF and the NSC would continue to yield positive results, opening a new chapter of growth and excellence for the sport in Nigeria.
