Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has announced a significant increase in the prize money for the annual Diri National Scrabble Classic, raising the total prize pool from N20 million to N40 million while directing that the game be introduced in secondary schools across the state.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the sixth edition of the championship in Yenagoa on Sunday, the governor disclosed that the winner of the Masters category in the next edition would receive N5 million, up from the current prize.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Daniel Alabrah, on Monday, said Diri also instructed the state Commissioners for Sports and Education to work out the framework for incorporating scrabble into secondary school activities, stressing that the game promotes intellectual development and strategic thinking among students.
Reflecting on his personal experience with the game, the governor said scrabble played a key role in improving his vocabulary, spelling and reasoning abilities while growing up.
His words: “Scrabble is a game I started playing as a youth and it helped my vocabulary and spelling ability. Today, I am very happy to hear the waves this tournament has made not only in our country but also beyond it and I like to appreciate all of you who have made the game interesting.
“Scrabble is a mind game. It is something that I will personally recommend even for our secondary schools as this is not just a sport, it is also education.
“The importance of scrabble cannot be over-emphasised as it makes you think strategically. We will continue to support the game till I leave office.
“Next year will be the last time I will have this interaction with you. So, in the next edition, the prize money for the Masters winner will be N5 million and the general category will be N40 million.”
Responding to requests by the President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engr. Bright Idahosa, Governor Diri pledged to facilitate the inclusion of scrabble as one of the demonstration sports at the 2028 National Sports Festival, which Bayelsa will host. He also assured Nigerian players heading to Kenya for this weekend’s World Youth Scrabble Championship of the state’s support.
According to the governor, Bayelsa’s sustained investment in sports is driven by the need to nurture the state’s abundant talents and provide meaningful engagement for young people.
He said: “We have the hosting right for the 2028 National Sports Festival and the practice is that as host, you can introduce some new games, and scrabble will be part of it. We will also support those going to Kenya as requested.
“We have a lot of talented youths and sports is one way to develop them. We are among the top sporting states in Nigeria and that is why we are investing in sports to develop our talents.”
Earlier, NSF President Engr. Bright Idahosa said Nigeria’s triumph at the 2015 World Scrabble Championship brought international recognition to the country and helped elevate the profile of the game.
He commended Governor Diri for his unwavering commitment to the development of scrabble, noting that Nigeria remains the leading scrabble-playing nation in Africa and one of the best globally. Idahosa also described the governor as a “silent achiever” while highlighting several infrastructure projects executed under his administration.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Sports, Dr. Daniel Igali, described scrabble as an intellectual sport deserving greater investment and recognition. He expressed confidence that Bayelsa would successfully host the 2028 National Sports Festival, revealing that construction of the proposed 30,000-capacity and 15,000-capacity stadiums was progressing according to schedule.
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said the 2026 edition recorded over 300 participants, making it the largest scrabble tournament ever held in Nigeria. He added that it also featured the highest prize money in the history of the competition.
Alabrah praised Governor Diri’s continued support, saying it has rekindled youth interest in the game across the country. He disclosed that the association, in collaboration with the NSF, is working towards transforming the tournament into a fully international event after this year’s edition attracted participants from Ghana.
He further noted that the championship introduced innovations such as online registration, digital score recording and live streaming, allowing audiences around the world to follow the competition.
In the competition, Abdulmimin Jimoh emerged champion of the Masters category, winning N2 million and a trophy. Bayelsa-born Felix Igolukumo claimed the Intermediate category with a prize of N1.2 million and a trophy, while another Bayelsa player, Godwin Angoye, won the Opens category, earning N700,000 and a trophy.
Veteran player Oladokun Esan retained the Veterans title for the third consecutive time, receiving N900,000 and a trophy, while Godwin Joseph won the Students category with a cash prize of N150,000 and a trophy.
Between 10 and 15 players received prizes across the various categories. Governor Diri also announced special cash gifts of N1 million each to seven-year-old Abdulsalam Yusuf from Kwara State and nine-year-old Bayelsa-born Elizabeth Fun-ere.
The event concluded with an exhibition match between Governor Diri and NSF President Bright Idahosa, with the governor emerging victorious.
