LSSC HOSTS AFRICA’S SCRABBLE CHAMPION, ASSOCIATION
As part of the efforts of the State Government to encourage sports development and provide an enabling environment for budding talents and elite athletes to thrive, Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Lekan Fatodu, recently hosted current Africa’s and National Scrabble Champion, Enoch Nwali, Chairman, Lagos State Scrabble Association and his team in his office at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The purpose of the event was to formally congratulate the scrabble champions Enoch Nwali and John Aiyedun for their remarkable achievement at the recently concluded Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship held in Ogun State, where Enoch and John clinched the first and second positions, respectively.
During the meeting, the DG acknowledged the remarkable work of the Lagos State Scrabble Association and its effective leadership, reaffirming the Sports Commission’s commitment to supporting their activities. “We will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders to discover and nurture more grassroots talent, moulding them into global champions”, he said.
Fatodu spoke eloquently on the significance of promoting sports at the grassroots level while encouraging Nwali not to rest on his oars in breaking more boundaries and not to deviate from the terrain in dominating the world of Scrabble.
In his words, “Lagos is blessed with a lot of talents in different areas. What we are positioned to do is essentially to continue to inspire, encourage and motivate our athletes across the disciplines”, adding that the state is constantly engaging the skills, talent, capability and ability of the young people to explore and dominate their various places across the globe.
Noting that Lagos is taking the lead in Scrabble, Fatodu stressed that Enoch and his team’s achievements will further serve as motivation and inspiration to many of their contemporaries.
The Director-General also acknowledged the remarkable work of the Lagos State Scrabble Association and their passionate leadership and reaffirmed the Sports Commission’s commitment to supporting their activities. “We will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders to discover and nurture more grassroots talent, moulding them into global champions.”
“We’ll also make make effort in ensuring that they get the well-deserved recognition at the highest level of authority in the state.
The critical investment and contributions of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in sports talents development in Lagos is producing even more than desired results in terms of the positive outcome we are getting”, he concluded.
In his remarks, Chairman, Lagos State Scrabble Association, Engr. Dipo Akanbi lauded the state for being supportive in terms of monthly payments and other incentives.
Enoch’s story is particularly inspiring. The reigning African Scrabble Champion was discovered by the Lagos State Scrabble Association while still a secondary school student in Ketu. Since then and with the support of the Lagos State Sports Commission, he has blossomed into a continental champion.