NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL
Team Ogun tops at Scrabble events
It was some moments of hugging, screaming and backslapping by players as members of the Team Ogun State, who topped the Scrabble overall medals table with eight medals, consisting of four gold, three silver and a bronze.
Having won three gold, one silver and one bronze medal in the Singles and Doubles events, the Prince Dapo Abiodun Jammers mined for more top medals in the Team Event on the final day on Tuesday.
Their efforts yielded an additional gold in the Intermediate category as African Youth champion David Ojih, Hakeem Ogundokun, and Tunde Saporu clawed their way to the top of the table after 12 rounds.
The female team, led by African Games double gold medallist Adebisi Adekansi, with experienced Bukunmi Afolayan and Youth prodigy Joy Ola, grabbed the silver medal with nine wins and three defeats above Team Lagos, but were behind Team Delta which took the gold medal.
The Opens’ triad of Emmanuel Ogiogio, David Idris and Olumide Sobowale also helped themselves to a silver medal with 9 wins behind gold winner Team FCT, while Team Anambra State took the bronze medal.
On the medals table, FCT finished second with three gold and one bronze medal while Team Delta State got two gold, two silver and one bronze to place third.
Fourth-placed Team Bayelsa State won two gold medals and
Edo got one gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
Team Lagos earned three silver and two bronze medals ahead of Team Oyo State, which won two silver medals. Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia and Anambra won a bronze medal each.
Players and officials gave a good review of the hosting state for providing a good tournament ambience and feeding.
Ogun State Scrabble Association Chairman Adekoyejo Adegbesan said the state was never ready to lower the standards, but to raise the standards to a fresh level at the National Sports Festival.
“It’s never been like this before. You can see the ambience, equipment are new; the playing boards, pro-tiles, pro-timer. We just put up the best of the best. All our players are happy that we’ve been able to create this opportunity for them to play scrabble.”
Adekoyejo, who also heads the continent’s Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) was full of good words as he described his team as the best Scrabble-playing state in Nigeria.
“Congratulations, Team. You have no idea what you all have just done at this National Sports Festival! You have cemented our spot as the Best Scrabble Playing State in Nigeria. We have won everything there is to win, and now we are the National Champions.”
Twenty-four states participated in the five-day event.
A seven-member management team has been inaugurated to manage the Rivers State contingent’s participation at the 2026 Niger Delta Games, scheduled to hold in Edo State.
Former Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Chris Green, who has served four terms in that role, was named chairman of the committee charged with overseeing the preparations and welfare of Team Rivers for the regional multi-sport event, tagged Edo 2026.
Other members of the team are Professor Ken Anugweje, Comrade Emma Ndah, Obia Inyengiyikabo and Awele Salubi, while Emmanuel Jaja will serve as the committee’s secretary. Veteran sports journalist Sammy Wejinya was also appointed Media Head and Director of Communications of the team.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, Green urged members of the committee to deploy their vast experience and expertise to ensure that the Rivers State contingent performs creditably at the games.
“Only the best in their respective fields have been selected to serve in the team, and I want to use this opportunity to charge all the appointed members to bring their wealth of experience to bear as we open yet another vista in the chapter of sports in Rivers State,” Green said.
The 2026 Niger Delta Games, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission, will be held in Benin City, Edo State, from February 20 to 27, 2026.
The games are expected to feature competitions in 17 sports, with events taking place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and other designated venues across the host city.
The Niger Delta Games bring together athletes from states in the oil-producing region and are aimed at promoting sports development, unity and youth engagement across the Niger Delta.
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The Leadership of the Africa Sports Management Association (ASMA) has joined others in mourning the 22 athletes of Kano State who died on their way back from the just concluded National Sports Festival.
In a statement signed by its president, Prof. Oluwaseun Omotayo, the association remarked that it received with shock the news of the fatal motor accident that claimed the lives of the 22 Kano State athletes.
“The purpose of this message is to express deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragic accident.
“Africa Sports Management Association (ASMA) leadership commiserate with the National Sports Commission, the Main Organising Committee (MOC), Kano State Governor and the Kano State Sports Commission, Ogun State Governor and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the entire Nigerian sports community “, the statement concluded.
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The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the just concluded 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, has expressed condolences to the Kano State Government. They expressed sympathy for the tragic incident involving members of the Kano State contingent. These members were returning home after participating in the National Sports Festival held in Ogun State.
A bus conveying the athletes was said to have been involved in a crash at the Dakatsalle Bridge in the Kura Local Government area of Kano State after passing Kaduna state, claiming the lives of 21 athletes.
The Executive Secretary of the LOC, Dr Kweku A. Tandoh, remarked: “We are saddened by this incident, particularly with the death of these young people, budding stars who had a lot to give the country with their talent, skills, and creativity in sports.
“Words cannot adequately express the sorrow the LOC feels at this loss.
“We offer our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the families of the departed ones, and we pray that God will comfort the families.
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