Amid Pomp At Teslim Stadium, Lagos Officially Flags Off School Sports Intervention Programme

R – L: Enefiong UDO-Obong – LASSIP Ambasador, Oluyomi Oluwasanmi, Assistant Director , School Sports, LSSC , Bisi Joseph , President Nigeria School Sports Federation, Sola Aiyepeku, Executive Chairman , Lagos State Sports Commission, Segun Dawodu, Honorable Commissioner , Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Titilayo Solarin ,Tutor General , Education District I, Adekanye Nike , Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary, Education District II, Oyetola Idowu, Tutor General / Permanent Secretary Education District III, Charles Olajide , Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary, Education District V , Okelola Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary Education District VI , Segun Osinaike , Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary, Education District IV .

What began two years ago with the blessing of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State School Sports Intervention Programme (LASSIP) was officially flagged of on Friday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

The LASSIP is a new innovation of the present administration of Mr Sanwo-Olu in Lagos to give the students a golden opportunity to combine sports with education.

Unveiling of LASSIP logo

The Teslim Balogun Stadium was a beehive of activities during the flagged-off ceremony as government officials, school teachers and students trooped out in their numbers to witness the epic event.

P.M. EXPRESS reports that the LASSIP an initiative designed to reintegrate sports back into the school’s curriculum was held amid pomp.

The scheme, which is another commitment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s unprecedented investments in youth development, provides more options and opportunities for students to excel in sports and academics.

The program is the first of its kind initiative which was introduced by the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Sports Commission partnered with the Lagos State Ministry of Education to deepen the state’s commitment to developing and transforming of schools sports.

Speaking at the flagged-off ceremony, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Olusegun Dawodu stated that the Lagos State School Sports Intervention Programme, which was conceived two years ago, has the blessing of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Commissioner emphasized the importance of the initiative to a Greater Lagos agenda of Governor Sanwo-Olu, adding that LASSIP will provide an opportunity for the schools to groom students who will excel in sports and education. According to him, the programme will be held in different batches for over 400 Games Masters and Mistresses.

Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Sola Aiyepeku said LASSIP’s broad vision include leveraging on sports to promote physical fitness and wellness, offer alternative career paths to young people and create a sustainable pipeline of talent discovery and development.

Aiyepeku stated that through the partnership with the Ministry of Education and collaboration of the six education districts, the state-wide training programme will attain its full potentials which are gains beyond encouraging participation.

He revealed that the Lagos State Sports Commission has commenced the training of over 400 sports masters and physical education teachers across Lagos as a first step in the deployment of the LASSIP

“We are also planning to educate the parents for them to allow their children participate in sports and the career paths that exist in Sports”, Aiyepeku added.

The Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Mrs. Titilayo Solarin,  who commended the LSSC Boss for working closely with the Education Districts since the inception of the present administration, lauded the timely LASSIP initiative and also acknowledged the efforts of the Lagos State Government through the LSSC for the trainings mapped out for the Games Masters/ Mistresses and Physical Education Teachers in order to contribute meaningfully to the development of school sports in the state.