By Pelumi Adele
Adekoyejo Adegbesan, President of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), is charting a bold new future for African Scrabble, driven by the momentum of the recently concluded World English-Language Scrabble Players Championship (WESPAC) in Accra, Ghana.
Adegbesan believes Africa must seize the moment and capitalize on the excitement generated by WESPAC 2025 to transform Scrabble into a continental powerhouse. With several major tournaments already on the continent’s calendar, including the African Scrabble Championship and the Youth Scrabble Championship, Adegbesan is pushing for more.
“We’ve tasted what is possible,” Adegbesan declared, outlining his vision for Scrabble to be embedded in school curricula across Africa, enhancing vocabulary, critical thinking, and strategic problem-solving in young learners.
Adegbesan is calling for sustained investment in mind-sport infrastructure, training programs, and competitive pathways to elevate the sport across Africa. He also wants more regional and national tournaments, media attention, and government support to drive growth.
The PANASA President highlighted Scrabble’s potential as an economic and developmental tool, attracting investment, boosting tourism, and creating jobs. He urged stronger partnerships with WESPA and government involvement to fuel Africa’s rise.
With Kenya hosting the World Youth Scrabble Championships in 2026 and Liberia hosting the African Scrabble Championship, Adegbesan is clear: Africa must aim higher. “We need more schools, more investment, and more government support,” he said. “If we build on the foundation 2025 WESPAC has given us, Africa will become the constant heartbeat of world Scrabble.”
Team Nigeria’s impressive performance at WESPAC 2025, where they won the Best Country title, is a testament to Africa’s potential. Adegbesan’s vision is set to take African Scrabble to new heights.
