Intelligent, well-behaved, organized, disciplined: that’s how the English Language teacher describes Prestige Mfoniso Archibong – winner of two Gold Medals in Scrabble at the 4th National Youth Games.
She is his favourite teacher: her name is Mrs Charity Michael and she is certain the ten-year-old will grow up into greatness. Prestige believes that much. Speaking with News Agency of Nigeria after his win on Thursday 13 September 2018, Prestige enthused: “One day, I know I will become a world champion in Scrabble. God will do it for me to achieve my dream”. He said the God who helps him to win will never fail.
Scrabble is a crossword game in which players use lettered tiles to build words. It is a game of both skills and chance. To win in this game, players must have good knowledge of English words. Prestige, a JSS3 student of Ritman College became interested in Scrabble when he saw his father playing and winning. He learnt from his Dad and the latter recommended him to World Number 2 Scrabble Player, Moses Peter, who honed his skills. Prestige won Gold in the singles event and another Gold with team-mate Abasido Utomobong at the NYG held in Ilorin, Kwara State. He had qualified for the national finals by winning Gold at the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival. In June 2018, he had won Silver at the Winnifred Awosika Foundation Tournament for Schools held in Lagos and received a cash prize of N200,000.
His father, Mfoniso Archibong Ntoketi who works with the Ritman Group and His mother Esther encourage him to be the best he can be. Prestige says his mother prays for him and tells him he can do anything – that accounts for his success. At Age 10 he has won competitions against older youngsters. His favourite subject is Fine Art, yet he wants to be an Accountant for the love of solving Mathematical problems. The English Language teacher rates his academic performance as excellent, adding that Prestige gets along well with other students. He dislikes no subject at all.
Mr Ntoketi says his boy is a go-getter who works hard at anything he wants and never takes no for an answer. After studying a book, Prestige would hand the book to his father, challenging him to ask any question from the book. Born on 29 August 2008 as the second son, Prestige advises young people to believe in and always pray to God who will see them through life.
Edidiong Esara 26/09/2018
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