.As Organizers urges 17 players to regularize their NSF licensing statu A record number of players have registered for the 5th edition of the Janet Adowei Memorial Scrabble Classics (JAMSC), which begins on Saturday at the Chevron Recreational Club, Gbagada, Lagos, Nigeria.We gathered that 117 players drawn from 20 states of the Federation completed their registration online by midnight Wednesday the 13th of November.

A member of the Organizing Committee, Khaleel Adedeji told FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG that this is higher than the 72 participants during the 4th edition won by Ryan Jacob of Team Akwa Ibom.

However, 17 players who have registered are yet to complete their Nigeria Scrabble Federation NSF licensing formalities and regularize their player’s status and failure to do so may prevent them from competing at the Classics.

A good number of established and highly rated players who are yet to be cleared for the Classics and they include Olatunde Adigun, Ogun State strong man Olufemi Gbadebo, 2022 winner of the prestigious Lekki Scrabble Classics, James Ewruje and a player some Gambia dread, Abiola Oyinloye.❌OLATUNDE ADIGUN❌OLUFEMI GBADEBO❌ABIOLA OYINLOYE❌JAMES EWRUJE❌ITUAH IYASELE❌JULIUS ADEYEMI❌OSUNTOPE MICHAEL❌ISIDORE EMOAVWOYAN❌JAMES ETENG❌ABDULSALAM BAYO❌OMIDIRE CHARLES❌JANET IWUAGWU❌OWOLABI SAHEED❌ESANGBEDO AKHERE❌ONYEBUCHI OKECHUKWU❌FRANCIS AWONAYA❌ABDULAZIZ OTHMANWe can authoritative tell you that this edition of Janet Adowei Memorial Scrabble Classics (JAMSC), has a very rich and strong cast of scrabble show boys and girls.

The roaster is led by current African Champion Oluwatimilehin Doko, former African champion Enoch Nwali, the Classics’ defending champion Ryan Jacob and serial winner John Aiyedun.

2023 South West Closed winner Cyril Umebiye, National Sports Festival medallist and a member of Team Nigeria to major outings Emmanuel Umujose is in the mix, alongside African Games gold medallist Adebisi Adekansi and the 2024 All Nigeria Amazons Scrabble Championship Queen Bukunmi Afolayan.

Two members of Team Nigeria to the African Games in Accra, Ghana, Abdulmumin Jimoh and Tega Okiemuta who were also in Kigali, Rwanda with George Ezinore who came second are other heavyweight wordsmith in attendance along with Samuel Adebola, hard man Babatunde Adeagbo as well as Babajide Alagbada the winner of the Intermediate event in Lekki.

It noteworthy to mention that player with the highest number of wins in a single National Open Championship Segun Durojaye is another confirmed actor this weekend with the 2016 NSF Green Jacket winner Dipo Akanbi.

It’s interesting to mention that Segun Durojaye last big win on the board this year came at the Pyramid Scrabble Mega Retreat that has the signature on Dipo Akanbi the captain of Nigeria’s current club champion.

Adeyemi Adeosun, Dokun Esan, Musa Lateef, Kareem Jamiu, Joseph Okere, Hassan Wasiu, Anthony Odok, Segun Adegbenro, Sunday Oshodi and Tunde Sapuru are plotting a coup d’etat for the super heavyweight including the defending champion Ryan Jacob.

The Classics in its 5th year is in three Divisions:✓ Masters✓ Intermediate ✓ OpensThe cut-off rating point is 1,400 and above for Masters, 1,100-1,399 points for Intermediate while it is 0-1,099 rating points for the Opens Division.

It’s an 18 rounds of games competition rated by Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) and will run for two days, games start by 10am daily with the 2021 Collins Scrabble Dictionary as the reference material.750,000 Naira is the top prize money for the Masters category and lots of spot prizes will be up for grab at the Classics that is supported by Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Mind Games Incorporated and Lekki Scrabble Club.Over 3.5 million naira will be shared as prize money.

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Thursday presented the proposed 2025 budget of N936 billion to the State House of Assembly for deliberation and approval.

The Governor arrived at the Assembly complex around 10 a.m. to a warm reception from enthusiastic staff who sang and danced to welcome him.

The vibrant atmosphere underscored the significance of the event, which marks a pivotal step in the state’s governance and development planning.

While unveiling the budget, aptly titled the “Budget of Fiscal Consolidation,” Governor Oborevwori highlighted its focus on human capital development and infrastructure expansion.

He emphasized that the proposed budget reflects his administration’s commitment to building a sustainable future for the people of Delta State.

A breakdown of the budget reveals significant allocations to key sectors:Road Infrastructure: N230 billion, the largest allocation, aimed at improving connectivity and boosting economic growth.

Education: N67.42 billion to enhance the quality of learning and access to educational facilities.

Health: N30.55 billion to strengthen healthcare delivery and infrastructure.Water Resources: N11.03 billion to ensure access to clean water for communities.

Agriculture: N7 billion to support farmers and boost food production.

Governor Oborevwori urged the Assembly to give the appropriation bill speedy consideration, emphasizing the importance of these investments in driving economic development and improving the quality of life for residents of Delta State.

The budget presentation signals the administration’s focus on fiscal responsibility and prioritizing sectors that directly impact the well-being of the people.

A deadly fire that broke out overnight at a retirement home in Villafranca de Ebro, located in northeastern Spain, claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals, according to the local emergency service on Friday.

The emergency services in the Aragon region shared limited information in their X post, though Spanish media reported that 82 people were present at the facility when the fire started around 5:00 am (0400 GMT), with the cause still unknown.

More details later…

AFP

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, praised the late Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, for his invaluable contributions to national security, describing him as a leader known for his unwavering commitment and selflessness.

Adeniyi shared these remarks in a statement released on Thursday by NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada.

He expressed that Lagbaja’s passing is a tremendous loss not only for his family, the military, and the government but for the entire Nigerian people.

Adeniyi extended his condolences to Lagbaja’s family, his colleagues, and the Nigerian Armed Forces.

He announced that the NCS had rescheduled its Gala and Award Night, originally planned for Friday in Abuja as part of the Comptroller-General of Customs conference, to pay tribute to the military leader.

“This decision is taken to allow NCS to identify with the mood of the nation in mourning Lagbaja.

“The NCS acknowledges the weight of this moment; we join all to mourn the passing of a steadfast leader,” he said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Lagbaja’s body was brought to Abuja on Thursday ahead of his burial set for Friday.

Lagbaja passed away on November 5 in Lagos following a short illness.

Nigerian inspirational speaker and serial entrepreneur, Stephen Akintayo is dreaming of landing an appointment from President Donald Trump as the United States (US) International Secretary for Housing and Land Banking.

Akintayo revealed his dream on Friday morning in a post he shared on his official X account.

“BREAKING NEWS! Wow! Who would have thought that one day, I’d be part of a story where Donald Trump and Stephen Akintayo are mentioned in the same breath?,” he wrote.

“Looks like all my posts supporting Trump’s policy direction on housing and land banking over the years have finally come full circle.”

Akintayo who is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stephen Akintayo Consulting International, Gtext Group and Investment Limited, however, added jokingly: “This news just had me cracking up, now if only this were true.

“From my posts about his business sense to my cheers for his election strategies, it is clear I have seen a lot of values in Trump’s approach to leadership, love him or not.

“And here is the thing: if Trump did offer me this position, I would bring some African flair to it. Imagine mixing our culture’s resilience with American land strategies!

“We would make property investment great again in ways no one has ever seen before! So, what do you all think? If this was real, should I take the role?”

Akintayo is a graduate of Microbiology from the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State, Nigeria.

While in his fifth year in the university, the 38-year-old entrepreneur started a Student Trade Fair on his campus.

He thereafter studied Digital Marketing Consultancy at the Digital Marketing Institute and Harvard University in the US.

The Lagos State Government has torn down several makeshift structures along the Ajao Estate Canal bank, where tenants pay an annual rent of N100,000.

This information was revealed in a statement from Tokunbo Wahab, the State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, shared on X.com on Friday.

Wahab wrote, “In continuation of concerted measures to reduce the scourge of environmental infractions and illegal encampment in public spaces, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI on Thursday demolished 138 shanties around the canal bank in Ajao Estate Canal where illegal occupants pays between N60,000 to N100,000 rent.”