Dalung Hails Lagos, Heritage Bank Over Organisation Of Skoolimpics

TAIWO ADELU

Nigeria’s Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has commended Lagos State Government and Heritage Bank for the successful organisation of the maiden Skoolimpics held at two centres in Lagos, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba.

Skoolimpics, which was held between 2 and 4 November, 2016, was sponsored by Heritage Bank through the facilitating support from the Lagos State Sports Commission. It was a mini Sports fiesta fashioned in the tradition of the Summer Olympic Games, where five sporting events (Swimming, Table Tennis, Handball, Basketball and Athletics) were contested for by over 100 public and private secondary schools students in Lagos.

The Sports Minister, who was the Special Guest of Honour during the closing ceremony of the Games at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, said that he was not surprised with the organisation of the Skoolimpics as Lagos State has been known to be in the vanguard when it comes to school sports development in Nigeria, adding that the ‘Centre of Excellence’  has been a good partner with the Federal Government to develop the potentials of Nigerian youths in sports and other areas of life endeavours.

He also commended the management of Heritage Bank for sponsoring the school sports competition, a platform to produce budding athletes to replace ageing stars in the country.

Special Adviser on Sports to the Governor of Lagos, Mr Deji Tinubu said the motivation to support the competition was borne out of the sports policy of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led government to develop sports with emphasis on youth development and the need to use sports to showcase the rich culture of the State.

“Starting from next year, we will come out with a programme designs for the grooming of outstanding athletes from various competitions we have been staging in the state. There will be all-round training programmes where the athletes will be engaged during the weekends and holidays. They will be under closed mentoring by our seasoned coaches. This we want to do to ensure that we bring out the best out of them, ” said Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission.

The highlight of the closing ceremony was the conclusion of 100m race (boys and girls) as well as relay race in both boys and girls categories.

Taviore Anite from Ipakodo Senior Secondary School won gold medal in the 100m race (girls), Amunike Peace of Dorcas Memorial Secondary School and Oyebode Victoria from Surulere Local Government Girls School won silver and bronze medals respectively.

In the boys 100m, Euba Senior Secondary School, Mushin’s Akala Oriyomi won gold, Moshood Abdulabeeb from Mushin Secondary School won silver, while Chigozie Nweke of FCET, Akoka, Yaba picked the bronze medal.

Relay race boys was won by Euba Secondary School, Mushin, while Hallmark Groups of Schools, Ikorodu and King’s College picked silver and bronze medals respectively.

Relay race girls was won by Hallmark Groups of Schools. Surulere Girls Secondary School won silver medal, while Dorcas Memorial College, Ajegunle picked the bronze medal.

Basketball gold (girls)  was won by Wesley Girls Secondary School. Fopfield Girls School and International School Lagos (ISL) picked silver and bronze medal of the event respectively.

In the boys category, Ilupeju Boys Secondary School won gold medal, while ISL and King’s College won silver and bronze medals respectively.

Handball girls was won by Herbert Macauley Girls High School, while Wesley Girls and Mainland Secondary School picked silver and bronze medals respectively.

In the boys category, Ayetoro Senior Grammar School won gold medal. Mainland High School won silver medal, while Arch Deacon Adelaja Secondary School won bronze medal of the event.