Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association begins secondary school scrabble sensitization...Atunrase Secondary School the first port of call

Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association begins secondary school scrabble sensitization

...Atunrase Secondary School the first port of call 

...We need corporate backing for this lofty, laudable initiative to blossom - Engineer Dipo Akanbi 

By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye 

 

 

The Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association (LASSMA), have begun the pilot project of it 'TAKE SCRABBLE TO SCHOOLS' with the introduction of the sport of words to Atunrase Senior High School, Owodele Street, Surulere, Lagos.

The Chairman of Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association (LASSMA), Engineer Dipo Akanbi alongside the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Atunrase Senior High School Mr. Adewale Adelowo, the Principal of the School Alhaji Fatai Yussuf and top scrabble players like Hakeem Olaribigbe were all on ground as the first scrabble tile was placed on the board during the introduction.

Atunrase Senior High School with over 330 students will benefit from the sport of scrabble so says, the School principal Alhaji Fatai Yussuf.

“Scrabble and Monopoly increases the brain capacity of the children and is one of the cardinal areas that really improves the performance of the learners, that is the main reason behind my decision to bring this game to the school.” 

Yussuf went on to add that, “The enthusiasm is skyrocketing, they are really interested in it and I hope that this will take them to places.”

“We intend to involve there parents, you know we spend very little time with the kids in school, so not very much will be done if the support of the parents is not there. Series of Parent Teachers forum meetings have been held, and that I feel will carry the parents along, so that they will give them their full support.”

A very elated student Suliamon Victor, told your award winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, that the introduction of scrabble to school will enhance their learning.

"I was very happy and amused because it's been a long time since I've played the game and for the old boys to bring it back to us is very good. The introduction of scrabble to the school is good, I came to find out that scrabble is a word formation game, it helps us in improving our vocabulary skills, our calculating skills and also our mind,”  

“I believe what others can achieve, I can do better, so me seeing that a Nigerian student can go on to become an African Champion twice, also motivates me, spurs me on to do better in scrabble. I advice my fellow students to participate in scrabble cause it will change their mindset towards some certain things.”

Similarly, Shalom Elochukwu a female student who was part of introduction ceremony promised to give her very best to the mind game and help sustain Nigerian Scrabble amazons dominant on the continent.

Shalom Elochukwu stressed that with scrabble, Atunrase Senior High School is adding value to their education.

“It was interesting, it was fun, to create words from another word, I was happy that at least I played a word. It is exciting, it's not stressful, you just have to relax your brain and select your word it's more fun than some games, it helps me to calculate and also learn more new words which will help me in school. It also helps me in sports too because it can bring new opportunities for me, but it will require my hard work and consistency to the sport,” an excited Shalom Elochukwu explained.

Adewale Adelowo is the Chairman Board of Trustees of Atunrase Senior High School.

He further explained why the school is embracing scrabble. “There is what is called grassroot sports development, and that is what we are doing we are taking it from the source, that's the basic thing. We graduated from this school and we now have this opportunity to bring the sport back to this school. And that is why we now have the Association and the person that is bringing those facilities and equipments needed to play Scrabble here, that we will taken care of.”

He strongly believes that scrabble will flourish at Atunrase Senior High School. “Sure it's visible, is just the interest that really matters, anything you put your mind as long as you are committed to it, is always visible we have done so many things like this in the past and this will not be an exception. Once the commitment is there, we have the expertise, then the rest is history that we will see.”

It's noteworthy to mention that the sport of scrabble is now being played at all level of schools in Nigeria.

The Chairman of Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association (LASSMA), Engineer Dipo Akanbi said they will be taking the 'TAKE SCRABBLE TO SCHOOLS' project to Secondary Schools in all the five Educational Divisions in the State.

He appealed to well meaning individuals, groups and corporate bodies to key in to the project.

“I'm very grateful to the Almighty God for this landmark achievement and initiative, I must say it has been coming for over fifteen years. One of the major reasons why we are yet to bring scrabble to other schools in the country is because, is because of the financial constraint, but over the time I've gotten to realize that we can start small, building on the small, small successes, get more people involved then we can go places.”

Akanbi emphasized that Lagos State Government is supporting but we need more support, “That's why we call on various corporate bodies to back the Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association, but in due time all of this will unfold.”

He also urge other scrabble stakeholders to drive the project 'TAKE SCRABBLE TO SCHOOLS' in their localities.