PANASA President Adegbesan charts a bold new future for African Scrabble after WESPAC 2025

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

Fresh off the electrifying World English-Language Scrabble Players Championship (WESPAC) in Accra, Ghana, President of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), Adekoyejo Adegbesan, says Africa must seize the moment and he is already sketching a future bursting with possibility.

With two major regional championships, two senior competitions, and a growing biannual Youth Scrabble Championship already on the continent’s calendar, Africa has never been more active on the global Scrabble map. But Adegbesan believes this is only the beginning.

“We’ve tasted what is possible,” he declared, outlining how the momentum from WESPAC 2025 can transform Scrabble into a continental powerhouse.

At the heart of his vision is education. Adegbesan wants Scrabble embedded in school curricular across Africa, describing it as a proven tool for building vocabulary, sharpening critical thinking, and enhancing strategic problem-solving in young learners.

But he’s not stopping there.

He is calling for sustained investment in mind-sport infrastructure, using the visibility and excitement generated by WESPAC to build training programs, competitive pathways, and learning hubs that will elevate the intellectual sport across Africa.

Adegbesan says the time is ripe for more regional and national tournaments, capitalizing on the wave of media attention Scrabble has enjoyed in recent months. More events, he believes, will unearth new talent and expand participation at grassroots level.

Beyond competition, Adegbesan highlighted Scrabble’s potential as an economic and developmental tool, stressing that the sport can attract investment, boost tourism, and create jobs for teachers, coaches, and trainers across the continent.

He also urged stronger government involvement, insisting that policy backing and national recognition are essential for sustained growth.

And on the international front, he wants Africa to tighten its partnership with WESPA, using the global body’s resources and expertise to fuel the continent’s rise.

With Kenya set to host the World Youth Scrabble Championships in 2026, and Liberia awarded the African Scrabble Championship in the same year, the stage is already set for Africa’s next leap.

But Adegbesan is clear, Africa must aim even 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 won the Best Country title at the 2025 WESPA Championship that had 28 countries in attendance ahead of Ghana and Kenya.

Uganda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, South Africa, Mauritius, Zambia, Tanzania and Togo were also in attendance at the World Championship in Accra, Ghana.