Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has announced an increase in the prize money for the Diri National Scrabble Classic.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the sixth edition on Sunday night in Yenagoa, the state capital, an impressed Diri announced that the winner of the Masters category in the next edition would receive N5 million, while the total prize money would increase from N20 million to N40 million.
The Bayelsa governor also directed the Commissioners for Sports and Education to work out the modalities for introducing the game into secondary schools in the state, saying it would help develop students’ mental abilities.
Diri said Scrabble developed his vocabulary, spelling and thinking ability while he was growing up, noting that it is a mind game that builds intellect and strategic thinking.
He said, “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.
