24 October 2006, Lagos
The ancient city of Ilorin, capital of Kwara State, last week witnessed a battle of brains minus brawn as 52 students drawn from 14 of the local governments locked horns in the second edition of the Toyin Saraki Secondary School Scrabble Tournament. At the end of the event on Saturday, two of the students could hardly believe their luck. Got an unexpected gift from the sponsor of the tournament, Mrs Toyin Saraki. They are to join the Nigerian delegation to the First World Youth Scrabble Championship held in Australia in December, courtesy of the First Lady of Kwara State and Founder of The Wellbeing Foundation, Mrs. Toyin Saraki.
The competition, which began last year, is Mrs. Saraki’s initiative to improve the literacy and numeracy abilities of secondary school students in the state. Speaking at the finals of this year’s competition last Friday, Mrs Saraki said the tournament is expected to encourage life-long skills in these children, build the spirit of healthy competition among them and take them away from mischievous and anti-social behaviours that now permeate schools, while preparing them for the challenges of the future.