Children under 12 will receive more attention at the 2026 Lekki Scrabble Classics as organisers introduce a dedicated U-12 category for the tournament, which runs from September 26 to 27.
The initiative aims to create an early pathway for young players to develop their skills, gain competitive experience, and potentially grow into elite Scrabble players.
With a top prize of $1,000, the tournament will, for the first time, feature a dedicated section for minors at the Lekki Scrabble Club’s Classics, which has traditionally been dominated by more experienced players.
Speaking on the motivation behind the initiative, President Samuel Anikoh said early exposure to competitive Scrabble could help uncover and nurture future champions for Nigeria.
Anikoh, who highlighted the benefits of starting the game at a young age, cited defending champion Abdulmumeen Jimoh as an example of the potential benefits of early exposure.
Jimoh has emerged as one of the dominant figures in Nigerian Scrabble in recent years, having started playing the game at a young age.
“As an early starter himself, Jimoh is evidence that starting early does have its benefits, which is why the Club is introducing a children’s section at the 2026 Lekki Classics event.
“This is building on our school Scrabble programme and providing a platform for our young U-12 players, a chance to begin to experience competitive Scrabble,” Anikoh said.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s Scrabble development pipeline by giving promising young players an opportunity to hone their skills, gain competitive experience and learn alongside some of the sport’s established names.