National Conference Delegate Spotted Playing Scrabble Responds

The photo of a delegate to Nigeria’s ongoing National Conference playing Scrabble on his Laptop went viral sometime last week and the culprit is Professor Oyewale Tomori.

Capture

A national daily had posted the photo with a caption, ”Does anyone have a name for him?”

Prof. Tomori playing scrabble

Responding to this, the Elder statesman, Professor Tomori, said:

“Yes, indeed, I know the person, because I am the one. I have responded to some of the blogs on the matter. The truth is this activity was done during the lunch break between 2-4 pm. As soon as the Chairman calls the meeting to order, I switch off my computer. Is there any rule against spending my free time as I like? Moreover, is there anything wrong, if others engage in reading newspapers and talking with others during their free time, and I prefer engaging in activities, I consider more useful to my development, such as using scrabble to improve my word power and discover new words? Indeed, I often play against the best in the world, world champions, and I have been beaten many times. But in the process I learnt new words, their meanings and improve my written and spoken language.

“Journalists live and sell their papers through the sensation route, which often is the opposite to telling the truth or providing full details. If the person who posted the picture had said the activity took place during the lunch break, that would have been no news; but to create sensation, he or she was economical with details.

“I will certainly continue to play such other mind engaging games like Sudoku, Logic, etc, if only to make me a better thinker and presenter. Only thing, is I will do this at my own free time!

“Thank you very much.”

Professor Oyewale Tomori is a University administrator and academician  and the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ogun State. He is a researcher and laboratory specialist has a wide range of experience in virology, disease prevention and control, national capacity building and development in the African region.