The University of Lagos (UNILAG) celebrates a historic victory as 500-level Pharmacy student, Oluwatimilehin Doko, claimed the title of Champion at the 15th African Scrabble Championship held in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
This remarkable achievement not only reinforces Nigeria’s leadership in African Scrabble but also crowns Doko as the youngest winner in the competition’s history.
The four-day event drew top contenders from across the continent, with 32 challenging rounds engaging ten countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Gambia, Mauritius, Zambia, South Africa, and Cameroon. Doko’s impressive performance solidified Nigeria’s longstanding dominance, marking the country’s 14th win in the tournament’s history.
A standout on the international Scrabble scene, Doko’s journey was a series of strategic victories. He initially rose to prominence in the competition’s opening round, defeating Uganda’s Godwin Murungi with a 487-423 win, ending the day with seven victories out of eight games.
Building on that momentum, Doko went on to achieve a 497-420 triumph against fellow Nigerian Mumeen Jimoh in Round 13, which elevated him to the coveted first table.
In a decisive moment in Round 31, Doko bested Jimoh once again with an impressive 574-442 win, clinching an unassailable lead with a total of 24 victories. His outstanding journey is a testament to resilience, strategy, and excellence – qualities the University of Lagos holds in high regard.
Notably, UNILAG’s scrabble talent also shone through in the Under-25 category, where David Ojih, an African Youth Champion and student of Human Kinetics and Health Education, achieved a commendable sixth-place finish with a 20-12 (907) record.
This latest victory follows the 2021 win by UNILAG alumnus and former champion Enoch Nwali, who secured the title in Lusaka, Zambia.
Doko’s triumph serves as an inspiration to young Nigerians and a proud moment for the University of Lagos, furthering its legacy of nurturing exceptional talent and fostering African champions.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photograph: Nigeria Scrabble Federation
