Scrabble champ Jighere, others secure French visa after media intervention

There seems to be a sigh of relief for World Scrabble champion, Wellington Jighere, and the other players representing Nigeria at the 2016 MSI World Scrabble Championships in Lille, France, as the French Embassy asked them to pick up their entry visas on Monday.

Jighere who took to facebook to announce his frustration Friday morning, a move that got the attention of the media which later contacted top government functionaries, yielded results as the players were asked Friday evening to pick up their visas on Monday.

“This is to say a big thank you to everyone for the solidarity shown for our plight. Earlier this evening (Friday), we got word that the visas for the entire team will be ready for collection by Monday. We will hope to be able to make it to Lille, France before the commencement of games on Wednesday.

“Once again, I, on behalf of the Scrabble family in Nigeria say thank you everybody! If it weren’t for you guys, especially the journalists amongst us, this great injustice would have gone unchallenged,” the World Scrabble champion wrote on his facebook account.

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