…As Loral Int’l School holds its 2nd annual inter-house sports

By Bianca Iboma

Loral International Secondary School Festac/Igbesa campuses recently held the second edition of its annual joint inter-house sports competition at its Igbesa campus ground in Ogun State.

The Head of Internal Audit, National Bureau of Statistics, Abuja, Mr. Sunday Ayeni Ebenezer who declared open the event as the chairman of the day, commended the school’s commitment to sport activities while urging the students who took part in the sporting competition to cultivate the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.

“Friendship born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition,” he observed. “Awards corrode but friends gather no dust.” Speaking in similar vein, he appreciated the sports staff for exposing the students to rigorous practice sessions. Their efforts have contributed in raising the overall standard of the school sports competition, he noted.

He called for reintroduction of physical education in school curriculum in line with the Federal Ministry of Education’s National Policy on Education which ensures that sporting activities are organised regularly.

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Ayeni said that sports should not be toyed with, adding that it helps to showcase the hidden talents of students. “Success in sports is a function of individual will and a supportive society,” he said. “A lot of students have the potential to be great sports stars but they never got started. They were raised and born in mega and provincial cities which never factored sporting expression into their urban architecture. Those who had made it in the sporting profession were able to achieve that based on their personal determination in the face of a relentlessly antagonistic society. Nigeria needs to develop her sport infrastructure for future representations so that it could stop wasting money, time, and political capital that is usually invested in international games.” He enjoined all to support the students in developing their sporting talents.

The Principal of Igbesa campus, Mrs. Osime Ekwutozia Martha, implored government to give unwavering support to sports at grassroots as it would stir up the interest of students who have talents in sporting activities. “Schools have been making efforts to groom talents in sports but after building these talents government needs to encourage those who want to develop it professionally,” she said.

The Principal of Festac campus, Mr. Benjamin Uzoukwu, expressed appreciation to the school management team for their unflinching support to ensure the success of the day’s event, adding that without sports, the intellectuality acquired by students will be meaningless, because sport promotes oneness, unity and team spirits among students.

The Managing Director of the school, Chief Crawford Ndukwe, showered encomiums on parents and guardians for their support towards the success of the events while noting that sporting activities are part of the school curriculum essential for social and physical wellbeing of students.

The inter-house sports competition featured march-pass, relay races both for the school and invited schools, parents race, acrobatic display among other sporting events. High points of the occasion was the presentation of trophies by Ayeni to Green House for emerging first with 10 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals while the second position went to Red House with 10 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals.  Yellow and Blue Houses clinched third and fourth positions with 6 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze medals and 4 gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze medals, respectively.