Winners Emerge in Seyi Makinde Sports Competition

By Oluwakayode Banjo

The final of the 2023 Governor Seyi Makinde Basic Education Schools Sports Competition, was held on Friday at the Olubadan Stadium, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

The Competition was organized by the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). 

After zonal qualification across the eight educational zones, the third place football match was between L.A Primary School, Ilora, Oyo and Baptist Primary School, Ajegunle.

The team from Oyo defeated the Ajegunle team through penalties, after a goalless 90 minutes.

In the final, a resilient St. Brigid’s Primary School, Mokola, Ibadan lost to Anglican Primary School, Igbomara, Iseyin through penalties after the game also ended goalless.

The State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abdulwaheed Adelabu who took the kick off of the final match reiterated the commitment of the state Government to Sports development.

Stressing the resolve of government to boost participation of youths in grassroots sports, Adelabu lauded the efforts of organizers of the competition to actualize vision of the present administration.

The Commissioner, who spoke on behalf of the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, said youths are the mobile segment of nation’s population which must be activated through sports.

“Our young ones are the building blocks that must be treated through sports to acquire the requisite resilience to endure the pressure and strain of a competitive world”, he said.

He noted that the goal of the competition, was to develop skills of the pupils and fish out new talents among them to represent the State at National and International Competitions.

“Consequently, Oyo State Government through the State Universal Basic Education Board has been facilitating qualitative learning process with the provision of quality learning materials, prompt payment of teachers salaries and allowances as at when due, regular training and workshops that will improve their skills/performances”, he stressed. 

He therefore urged the participating pupils in the competition to exhibit the intellectual abilities, skill resourcefulness expected, for the success of this competition.

The Executive Secretary, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Jacob Dairo said the maiden competition featured games and sporting activities amongst Public Primary Schools in the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State. 

He said the positive roles sports play in advancing national unity and ensuring Basic Education pupils, are dissuaded from partaking in anti-social activities, can not be underestimated.

“Education is the bedrock of all developmental efforts and that the entire system of education rests on the basic school level. It is in this regard that government of Oyo State under the able leadership of Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde feels fully committed to accord basic education its pride place of priority. His Excellency has assisted OYO SUBEB in the attainment of an excellent position to lead other SUBEBS in the Federation, remaining a pace – setter Board in the realization of various goals of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Programme.Permit me to put it on record that the present administration has done a lot on massive encouragement of grassroots sports through Oyo SUBEB via the following remarkable achievements in sporting activities:

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