Adam Gbadebo wins 2025 Winifred Awosika Scrabble Schools Tourney

Adam Gbadebo, 10 years old, has been crowned champion of the 2025 Winifred Awosika Foundation Tournament for schools.

Gbadebo, a recent graduate from Akingbogboade Nursery and Primary School and son of the top Ogun State Scrabble Player Femi Gbadebo, popularly known as ALESH, dominated the competition with five victories and without losses, ending with an accumulated extension of +682.

He led the classification table with a margin of 454 points and received a fictional verification of ₦ 500,000.

Yukusi Esther, a student at the Chrisland school in Festac, assured second place with five victories and an extension of +258. Ebube Maduegbuna of Chrisland School, VGC, arrived in third place, also with five victories and an extension of +99.

An excited Gbadebo accredited his father and coach for his success, saying: “I am very happy. I started playing scabble when I was in the eighth year. My dad taught me to play Scrabble.”

His mother, Bukola, expressed his pride through tears of joy, saying: “This boy really proud me. This scabble is taking us to another level.”

Chief Winifred Awosika, the tournament coordinator, said the event aimed to promote the scrabble game among students and discover young talents in schools.

“We pray that these little ones improve Nigeria. No more tribalism, discrimination based on religious. All these children are children of light,” he said, emphasizing the role of competition in the promotion of national unity.