Ogun Students Learn Scrabble Skills

The Book and Boot Foundation has trained over fifty students in Scrabble. This is part of a grassroots effort to get more kids involved in sports and to reduce inequality in rural areas of Ogun State.

The four-day training took place at El-Berit Academy in Esupofo, Ado Odo Local Government Area. Students learned the basics of Scrabble and received playing kits that included boards, tiles, racks, and score sheets.

During the program, Dotun Omisakin, the foundation's director, explained that the initiative aims to close the gap in sports access for kids in underserved communities.

"We have observed that some sports are highly capital intensive, which cannot be afforded by some children in the rural communities," Omisakin said.

The foundation focuses on both education and sports. It also supports student-athletes and organizes collegiate sporting events. He called for more private-sector support to boost grassroots development.

Trainer Paul Gbadegesin described Scrabble as a mind game. He said it helps students improve their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Nigerian player Akeem Ogundokun also interacted with the students about the game. The Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) helped the program by providing a professional Scrabble set.

Oluwayomi Oladeji, the founder of El-Berit Academy, emphasized the need to mix academics with sports and other activities.

"Education goes beyond what happens within the four walls of a classroom. We are intentional about creating opportunities for our students to develop their thinking, communication, problem-solving, and social skills," she said.