SPORTS IN EDUCATION: PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS DISPLAY SPORTING TALENTS IN IKEJA ANNUAL SPORTS FIESTA • ‘Now, is the time to start, if we want to win medals in Olympics’ – Amosu Akeem Abolore

SPORTS IN EDUCATION: PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS DISPLAY SPORTING TALENTS IN IKEJA ANNUAL SPORTS FIESTA • ‘Now, is the time to start, if we want to win medals in Olympics’ – Amosu Akeem Abolore

By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper

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The role of sports in education was brought to the fore at the recent Annual Sports Festival organized by the Education District in Ikeja under the leadership of the Education Secretary of Ikeja Local Government Education Authority, Comrade Amosu Akeem Abolore. Comprising four zones, the Educational District boasts 33 public primary schools in Onigbongbo LCDA, Ojodu LCDA and Ikeja LGA. The inter-school sports competition is a great way to boost friendship and healthy competition among the pupils. It is also a veritable way to raise budding stars that could represent Nigeria in the Olympics and other global sporting fiesta which was covered by Oki Samson of Trek Africa Newspaper.

The Education Secretary and Organizer of the sporting event, Mr. Amosu Akeem Abolore shared: ‘This is our Annual sports festival for the 33 public primary schools within Ikeja. We have 4 zones in Ikeja. It is a way to discover talents from various schools in many sports. We are not pushing sports aside. This is the time for us, as Nigeria, to start if we want to win medals in the Olympics. Victor Osimhen started here. He trained here before he was discovered.’

 

‘We are collaborating with Bose Kaffo, former Nigerian tennis star to discover talents. We don’t want to pass them from Primary 6 and forget them. The pupils will be given textbooks and exercise books that will be useful for them in their schools. There will be medals as well which they can be proud of and showcase, and God willing, if they are still on the track, they will add more to other medals.’

Speaking at the event with Oki Samson of Trek Africa Newspaper, the Vice Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Barr. Olufunke Hassan added: ‘The essence of sports is to teach healthy competition and to bring out talents in our children. The children have put their efforts into performing today. This is to bring out their natural athletic talents that we can nurture as they grow up. There is more to educating a child than just the basics that go on within the 4 walls. We are nurturing diversity at a young age.’

 

‘Onigbongbo LCDA is working closely with the Lagos State Sports Commission across diverse sports like tennis, football, etc. We just ended a football tournament and we are looking to take them for more competition, academies, mentoring and sponsoring some of them through training.’

The Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, Hon. David Segun Odunmbaku who was represented by the Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Lekan Peters praised the organizers of the sporting contest, noting that, ‘It will develop the skills of our pupils. It will shift their minds from the nonsense happening around. Adding sports to education is good for future development. My Chairman in Ojodu LCDA is very young and vibrant. He has a set up a committee to organize something like this. After our first 100 days in office, we will unveil it to the general public.’

 

Some royal fathers, members of the CDAs, members of parent forums and teachers were also present. They showed solidarity with the Education District as critical stakeholders in the education sector.

The Awuse of Onigbongbo kingdom, Oba Olusegun Adeyemi Ajasa, Olaside I, hailed the Education Secretary for engaging the children. ’First and foremost, I will like to thank the Organizing Committee of this event and also the Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Ojodu LCDA, and Ikeja LGA. I also thank SUBEB Chairman and other government agencies coordinating the event. Onigbongbo covers Olusosun, Oregun, Ikeja GRA, Wasinmi, etc. This is a good development for sports. I encourage government to put more efforts and funds into sports for the growth of our youths. I encourage our youths to know what they are doing. There is nothing they will gain in violence. I want them to disregard violence and vices.’

 

The Headteacher of Olusosun Primary School, Mrs. Janet Adekemi Agbebi while thanking the Education Secretary, Mr. Amosu encouraged the children to continue in sports, ‘My message to our children is that they should practice more at home in order to develop their sporting talents. I thank our Education Secretary for this event. We pray that God will enlarge his coast. We are grateful.’