The Scrabble event at the 27th Nigerian University Games (NUGA) has turned into a two-horse race, with the University of Uyo (UniUyo) and the University of Ibadan (UI) emerging as early frontrunners after dominant displays in the singles and doubles categories.
With the high-stakes team event and the coveted Best Board medal still underway, the word-war is far from over.
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UniUyo fired the first warning shot in the men’s singles, where Abasido Bassey powered his way to gold with the best cumulative spread of the tournament, as teammate Prestige Archibong secured silver to seal a 1–2 finish for the institution. Amadi Gift of Rivers State University completed the podium with bronze.
UI responded in emphatic fashion in the women’s singles as Funmilola Kelani delivered a masterclass across the rounds to clinch gold, ahead of Ekajeh Talent of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), while Gowon Precious of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, settled for bronze.
The doubles category produced equally intense tile-trading. UNIBEN’s brotherly pair of Oboro Alfred and Oboro Alexious stormed to gold in the men’s doubles, with UniUyo settling for silver via Bassey and Archibong, and UI grabbing bronze through Kingsley Enyi and Benjamin Onuh.
The UI-UNIBEN rivalry resurfaced in the women’s doubles, but this time the Ibadan pair of Kelani and Barakat Malik proved unstoppable, seizing gold. The Ekajeh sisters – Talent and Excel – earned UNIBEN silver, while Blessing Ola and Hauwa Abdullahi of the University of Jos took bronze.
With two gold medals, Kelani has emerged as the early poster girl of NUGA Scrabble, while UniUyo’s dual gold haul keeps the medal table tight heading into the team rounds. UNIBEN’s Talent Ekajeh also remains on the radar, having secured silver in both events so far.
NUGA Scrabble Coordinator, Chief Olobatoke Aka, applauded the athletes and organisers for delivering a highly competitive and disciplined tournament.
“The competition has been very engaging. The players have shown discipline, strategy, and sportsmanship. We are looking forward to an equally thrilling team event,” he said.
With the team event and the Best Board medal still in play at press time, the battle for campus bragging rights is poised for a blockbuster finish.
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