The Executive Governor of Anambra State Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has described the School Sports Festival as the beginning of a new era for sports development in the state.
Soludo who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim at the grand finale recently emphasized the essence of sports as a tool for conviviality, career development and engaging Ndi Anambra youths meaningfully.
Mr. Governor also reassured that the present administration will continue to support programmes that enhances youth development.
He noted that the sports sector is one of the major pillars of the present administration, said the sector will be revived and re-positioned to attract sports lovers from across the world.
He encouraged students in the State to apart from their course of study to embrace sports, as according to him, sports can make one rich and also contribute to longevity. He reassured that the present administration is poised to revitalize the sports sector as part of efforts towards improving the State’s economy.
Chairman Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ASSDC) Hon. Patrick Estate Onyedum, in his speech expressed delight that the month long festival which kick-started with 610 primary and secondary schools with a total of 21,000 athletes concluded on a very bright and positive note as the student athletes demonstrated their sporting prowess.
Onyedum eulogized Soludo for his approval towards holding of the festival after a 10-year hiatus. The Sports boss informed that exceptional talents discovered from the school sports festival will represent the state at the upcoming National Youth Games (NYG) later in the year and in furtherance the National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled to be hosted by Ogun State in 2024.
ANN reports that the festival which ended on a high note, saw Washington Memorial Grammar School Onitsha and Uncle Ralph the Great Academy claimed Gold in the football event.
Washington Memorial Grammar School saw off their opponent from Bubendorf Memorial Grammar School Adazi-Nnukwu by 4-2 on Penalty shootouts after a barren regulation time to claim the U-17 Male Football Gold. Uncle Ralph the Great Academy from Isuaniocha had earlier saw off their opponents in Eri Primary School from Aguleri by 3 goals to 1.
In the Track and field events, Lucy Nwankwo of Rosa Mystica High School Agulu ran the best time to win gold in the finals of the 100 metres U-17 Girls while Chigozie Nwankwo also from Rosa Mystica High School Agulu settled for silver as the bronze medal went to Chinaecherem Okafor who represented Holy Queens Secondary School Aguluzigbo.
In the Male Category of the 100 metres finals, Edward Chibuike from Dominican Sisters College Abatete took Gold ahead of Akachukwu Onyejekwe of Holy Queens Secondary School Aguluzigbo and Chibuzor Akanisi of St. Michaels Comprehensive College Nimo who settled for silver and bronze medals respectively.
Vision High School Nnewi and Central School Nimo who emerged as overall best secondary and primary schools each got a whooping sum of N1.5 million; Ide Secondary School Enugwu-Ukwu and Iyiora Primary School Iyiora in Anambra East LGA both got N1 million each for emerging the 1st Runners up for the Secondary and Primary Schools respectively.
Rosa Mystica High School Agulu and Iringwu Primary School Nanka both settled for a consolation prize of N500,000 each for emerging third overall in both the Secondary and Primary schools category.
Most Valuable Players in the 10 sporting events of Athletics, Basketball, Chess, Football, Scrabble, Swimming, Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball and Cricket all got a sum of N20,000 each. There was also a raffle draw were three students smiled home with each winning a brand new bicycle.
In an interview, the Transition Committee Chairman for Anaocha Local Government Area, Mr Gerald Ozor while commending Professor Chukwuma Soludo for meaningfully engaging the youths through the sports sector, observed that when the youths are engaged, crime and criminality will reduce drastically and recommended that the State government should sustain the Anambra Sports Solution Initiative in the interest of the state and the teeming youths.
The Coach of Vision High School Nnewi, Mr Godwin Bakam, and that of Ide Secondary School Enugwu-Ukwu, Mr Bethel Odionye whose schools respectively took Secondary Schools overall first and second positions in the competition, thanked God for giving them victory, and promised to prepare their teams the more for future local, national and international competitions.
The event featured presentation of medals, prizes and trophies to the athletes by the Deputy Governor.
