Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Abdulmumeen Jimoh has retained his Division A title at the 2026 Lekki Scrabble Club Classics in Lagos, completing back-to-back victories at the tournament and collecting the $1,000 top prize.
Jimoh emerged champion after the two-day competition, which was held at the Peninsula Hotel in Lekki and attracted more than 200 players across its various categories, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
His latest victory strengthens his position among Nigeria’s leading competitive Scrabble players as the country prepares for the 16th Africa Scrabble Championship in Monrovia, Liberia, next month.
Jimoh Defends His Title
Jimoh entered the 2026 Lekki Classics as the defending Division A champion after winning the previous edition.
He successfully defended the title despite facing a field that included several experienced players from Nigeria and overseas.
The tournament’s $1,000 first prize had been announced ahead of the competition as an increased incentive for leading players to participate. The event was scheduled for September 26 and 27 and featured competition across two main divisions, alongside the newly introduced Under-12 category.
The Lekki Scrabble Club’s official website describes the annual Classics as its flagship tournament and a major event within Nigeria’s Scrabble community. The club, which traces its origins to 2010, has attracted players from different parts of Nigeria and the diaspora over the years.
Following his victory, Jimoh said he was pleased to retain the championship despite the quality of opposition.
He also identified the upcoming African Scrabble Championship as his next major target, saying he would begin preparations by working on areas that needed improvement after the Lekki competition.
Victory Dedicated to Late Brother
Jimoh also dedicated his latest achievement to his late elder brother, who introduced him to Scrabble.
The dedication added a personal dimension to a victory that has further established Jimoh as one of the prominent names in Nigerian Scrabble.
His development has previously been highlighted by Samuel Anikoh, president of the Lekki Scrabble Club, who described Jimoh as an example for younger players and credited his discipline and commitment to continuous improvement.
Jimoh’s rise has also come amid competition from other leading Nigerian players, including Enoch Nwali and Timilehin Doko.
Lekki Classics Expands Its Reach
The 2026 Lekki Scrabble Classics represented an important stage in the tournament’s development.
Ahead of the event, organisers expected more than 300 players to participate, which would have represented a record field for the competition. Post-event reporting by NAN put actual participation at more than 200 players.
The tournament also attracted competitors from outside Nigeria, including players from Ghana, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, according to Lekki Scrabble Club president Samuel Anikoh.
The growing international participation reflects the wider development of competitive Scrabble in Nigeria and the increasing role of Nigerian tournaments in preparing players for continental and international competitions.
The tournament was also rated by the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, the Pan African Scrabble Association and the World English-Language Scrabble Players Association, according to pre-event reporting.
New Under-12 Category Targets Young Players
One of the notable additions to this year’s Classics was the introduction of a dedicated Under-12 category.
Organisers said the new category was designed to expose younger players to competitive Scrabble and support the development of future talent.
The initiative builds on the Lekki Scrabble Club’s wider school-focused activities. Club officials have argued that introducing children to competitive Scrabble at an early age can help develop skills and create a pathway towards higher-level competition.
The children’s competition also gave younger participants an opportunity to compete in an organised tournament environment rather than limiting the event to established adult players.
In the Under-12 category, Abdulsalam Toyyibaht emerged champion and thanked her parents, coaches, friends and other supporters for helping her progress.
The competition also featured young player Gbadebo Adam, who spoke about the influence of his father and his ambition to continue developing his Scrabble skills.
Division B Title Goes to Frank Ishiekwene
While Jimoh retained the Division A crown, Frank Ishiekwene emerged as the Division B champion.
The tournament therefore provided competitive opportunities across different levels of the game, allowing both established players and developing competitors to compete for honours.
The inclusion of multiple categories is part of the broader effort by organisers to make the Classics a platform for competitive development as well as an annual gathering of established players.
Tournament Serves as Preparation for African Championship
The timing of the Lekki Classics was significant because it came shortly before the 16th Africa Scrabble Championship in Liberia.
The continental championship is scheduled for October 21 to 25, 2026, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia. The Pan African Scrabble Association identifies the Africa Scrabble Championship as the continent’s premier Scrabble competition.
Liberia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has also confirmed government preparations for hosting the continental tournament, which will bring players and officials from across Africa to Monrovia.
The championship is expected to involve players from around 30 African countries, according to reports on preparations for the event.
For Nigerian players, the Lekki Classics provided an opportunity to test competitive form shortly before the continental tournament.
The Pan African Scrabble Association says Nigerian players have won 14 of the 15 editions of the Africa Scrabble Championship held so far. The only non-Nigerian individual champion listed by the association is South Africa’s Trevor Hovelmeier, who won in 2002.
The 15th edition was won by Nigeria’s Oluwatimilehin Doko in Kigali, Rwanda, according to PANASA.
Nigeria’s Scrabble Development Efforts
The growth of the Lekki Classics comes against the backdrop of broader efforts to strengthen Scrabble development in Nigeria.
Bright Idahosa, president of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, said the federation was working on its Scrabble-to-School initiative to introduce the game to more schools.
He also pointed to the educational benefits associated with Scrabble, particularly in areas involving vocabulary, spelling, numeracy and cognitive development.
The introduction of the Under-12 category at the Lekki Classics complements that objective by giving younger players a competitive platform.
For organisers, the challenge now extends beyond staging major tournaments to ensuring that participation at the grassroots level continues to grow.
What Comes Next for Jimoh?
Jimoh’s immediate focus now turns to preparation for the African Scrabble Championship in Monrovia.
His Lekki Classics victory gives him another tournament title and additional competitive experience before the continental championship.
The Africa Championship will also carry a significantly larger prize purse. PUNCH reported in February that the 2026 competition would have a record $35,000 prize fund, with the champion set to receive $10,000.
For Jimoh and other Nigerian competitors, the October championship will provide another major test against some of Africa’s strongest Scrabble players.
His successful defence at Lekki means he will enter that preparation period as the reigning two-time champion of one of Nigeria’s prominent Scrabble tournaments.
The Lekki Classics, meanwhile, continues to expand beyond its traditional competitive role by bringing together established players, international competitors and younger participants.
Its fifth edition has therefore highlighted both the strength of Nigeria’s current Scrabble talent and the growing emphasis on developing the next generation of players.
Why the Victory Matters
Jimoh’s back-to-back Lekki Classics titles are significant within the Nigerian Scrabble calendar because the tournament has become an important meeting point for leading players and emerging talent.
The event’s growing international participation, increased prize money and introduction of a children’s category point to an expanding ecosystem around competitive Scrabble in Nigeria.
For Nigerian players, the timing also provides a useful competitive bridge between domestic tournaments and the Africa Championship.
As Jimoh begins preparations for Monrovia, his latest Lekki title provides another milestone in a career that has increasingly placed him among the leading names in Nigerian Scrabble.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), report on the 2026 Lekki Scrabble Club Classics and Jimoh’s victory.
- Lekki Scrabble Club, official information on the club and Lekki Classics.
- Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), Africa Scrabble Championship information and historical records.
- Liberia Ministry of Youth and Sports, preparations for the 2026 African Scrabble Championship.
- PUNCH, 2026 Africa Scrabble Championship prize-money report.
- Vanguard, background on Jimoh and the Lekki Scrabble Classics.
