Seven Nigerian Scrabblers Bag PANASA Honours

Posted : 04 January 2026

The Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) has announced its New Year Honours List, celebrating seven outstanding Nigerian players whose performances between December 1, 2024, and November 30, 2025, defined one of the most successful periods in African Scrabble history.

The honours were confirmed by the PANASA Technical Committee, led by Technical Director Chrispine Okeyo of Kenya, alongside Ratings Officer Umar Faruq Babainna of Nigeria, Don Elijah Kagiri of Uganda, Adedeji Khaleel of Nigeria, and Emmanuel Enyi, also of Nigeria.

The committee reviewed continental rankings and performances at the World English Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) Ghana 2025.

Overall, PANASA has now awarded 13 Continental Champion (CC) badges, seven Grand Master (GM) titles, and 12 Expert (EXP) recognitions, reflecting the rapid growth and rising standard of Scrabble across Africa.

Africa’s Golden Year on the Global Stage

The 2025 season will be remembered as a breakthrough year for African Scrabble.

At the World Youth Scrabble Championships in Malaysia, Nigeria’s Abdulqudus Aliu finished second overall—Africa’s best-ever result at the event—while 14-year-old Sophia Ekeruche claimed the Best Female Player award.

Africa also hosted the world at WESPAC Ghana 2025, widely praised as the finest edition of the championship. Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya topped the country rankings, while Nigeria’s Oluwatimilehin Doko, Tega Okiemute, and Abdulmumuni Jimoh, alongside African Games gold medallist Emmanuel King of Sierra Leone, all finished in the Top 10 individually.

Mauritius and Togo also made historic first appearances at the championship.

The Honourees

Prestige Archibong (JCC)
Prestige became the first-ever recipient of the Junior Continental Champion (JCC) badge. After winning the Under-15 title at the African Youth Scrabble Championship (AYSC) in 2023, he stepped up to the Under-19 category in 2025 and won again, completing a clean sweep of continental youth honours.

Sophia Ekeruche (JCC)
One of the brightest young talents in world Scrabble, Sophia delivered a record-breaking performance at the AYSC in Kenya, going unbeaten in 18 matches to claim the Under-15 title. The 14-year-old has now been awarded the JCC badge and will officially compete as Sophia Ekeruche (JCC).

Tega Okiemute (GM)
A year of consistency and podium finishes saw Tega rise from Expert to Grand Master. He closed 2025 with an average rating of 2134.7 over 90 games, finishing seventh on the African Ratings Ladder.

George Ezinore (GM)
Already an Expert in 2024, George elevated his game in 2025 with strong performances in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana. Winner of the NSF Green Jacket, he finished the year with an average rating of 2100 over 126 games, ranking third on the African Ratings Ladder.

David Ojih (EXP)
At just 21, David Ojih became the youngest Expert in Africa. The former African Under-19 champion enjoyed a stellar season, including medals at the Nigeria National Sports Festival and a side-event win at WESPAC 2025, ending the year with an average rating of 2027.

Adebola “Dunsin” Samuel (EXP)
After narrowly missing Expert status in 2024, Dunsin rebounded strongly in 2025. Victories at the Governor Douye Diri Scrabble Championship and the BSP Tournament in Yenagoa propelled him to fifth on the continental rankings with an average rating of 2032.

Lukeman Owolabi (EXP)
A familiar name on the global circuit, Lukeman impressed across continents in 2025. The current number one player in Ireland, he finished eighth on the African Ratings Ladder and earned the Continental Expert badge following a year that included a Cape Town International title and a Top-10 finish at WESPAC Ghana.

As PANASA celebrates these seven honourees, the message is clear and compelling: African Scrabble is not only growing—it is thriving, producing champions, record-breakers, and global contenders, with an even brighter future ahead.

Seven Nigerian Scrabblers Bag PANASA Honours

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