Principal urges parents not to discourage children with sporting skills
By Uchenna Eletuo
The Principal of Federal Government College (FGC) Ijanikin, Lagos, Ms. Tofunmi Akamo, has urged parents not to discourage children who show an interest in sport from making a career out of it.
Akamo provided the advice during the school’s 45th annual inter-house athletic competition, held at its premises on Tuesday.
She said sport was a lucrative and quick pay-off business that some young people got into and made it big in life.
The principal said sport is a livelihood for some athletes and urged the boys not to slack off in honing their skills in such activities.
She encouraged such boys and girls to choose role models from among the best athletes in the world and work hard to be like them or to surpass them in sports records.
Akamo said the in-school sports mandated by the Federal Ministry of Education should promote unity in diversity.
“It’s also a way to increase social interaction between students from different social backgrounds.
“Sport is meant to inculcate a valued competitive spirit among our many learners.
“It provides our students with opportunities for relaxation, entertainment and recreation,” she said.
The Nigeria News Agency (NAN) reports that the students thrilled their parents at several sporting events and won various awards.
In the Junior Girls 100m, Mbagu Oyinye of Macaulay House took first place in 13.88 seconds, Precious Okeke, also of Macaulay, was second in 14.08 seconds, Nwandinma Amarachi of Moremi House was third in 14.57 seconds while Chizaram Njoku from El-kanmi House finished fourth in 15.10.
In the Senior Girls Event, Gift Ogochukwu of Moremi House overtook others to take first place in 12.80s, Olayemi Akanbi of Macaulay was second in 12.81s while Alimat Ligali of Oduduwa House was third in 12.98s.
Macaulay’s Chikaima Uwanyanwu was fourth in 13.01 seconds while Nnamdi Azikiwe’s Christabel Okeoma was fifth in 13.06.
In the Junior Boys, Kehinde Bello of El-Kanemi was first in 13.07 seconds, Daniel Mminkwe of Nnamdi Azikiwe House was second in 13.07 seconds, Yau Shuaibu of Macaulay House was third in 13.56 seconds, Victor Obilor of Moremi House finished fourth in 13.75 seconds while Jaja House’s Anthony Okeke was fifth in 14.12 hours.
Some of the participants told NAN after the events that they were optimistic of becoming a star in the sport.
Gift Ogochukwu, first prize winner for the senior women’s event, said she began preparing for the competition the same week they resumed for the second term.
The 13-year-old athlete said her main goal is to represent the country at the Olympics.
“I want to be known in the world like Blessing Okagbare,” she said.
Kehinde Bello, who attracted public admiration with his zigzag running style, said he plans to improve on his previous performance.
NAN reports that medals, certificates and trophies were prizes presented to winners in the cross-house sports.
Oduduwa House won the day with 15 gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals to defeat closest rival, Nnamdi Azikiwe House, who finished in second place with 11 gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals.
Queen Moremi House finished third with seven gold, ten silver, and nine bronze medals, while Maculay House finished fourth with five gold, nine silver, and ten bronze medals, while Danfodo House finished with four gold, nine silver, and nine bronze finished fifth with six bronze medals.
El-Kanemi House settled for sixth place with four golds, three silvers and three bronzes, while King Jaja House was bottom of the table with no golds, two silvers and three bronzes. (NAN)
Edited by Oluwole Sogunle