By Njide Ezeonyejiaku
Anambra athletes have clinched four Gold Medals in the just concluded Basic Schools Sports Competition, 2024 in Abuja
The event tagged: BESS 2024 Games, held at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja for pupils in the Basic Education sector attracted schools from the thirty-six states and Abuja who competed for the final rounds of the diverse games.
Present at the event were the Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi; the Dean of SUBEB chairmen, Prof. Shehu Abdulraheem Adaramaja and the Chairman, FCT SUBEB, Dr. Alhassan Sule.
Others were the President, Nigeria School Sports Federation, Mrs Olabisi Joseph; the Director Academic Services, UBEC, Mrs Roseline Medubi; and a representative of the Minister of State for education.
At the end, Master Onuorah Praise defeated other athletes to win the Gold Medal in Chess for boys, Udeh Kamsy Precious won a Gold Medal in Chess for girls; Ogidi Moses clinched the Gold Medal for boys’ Long Jump and another Gold Medal in High Jump.
Others were Odii Sopuruchukwu and Damian Divine Favour who won a Silver Medal in boys Scrabble and a Bronze Medal in girls Scrabble respectively.
Expressing her joy with the prowess of Anambra contingent at the BESS Finals, Abuja, the Executive Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Awka, Dr. Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi congratulated the athletes for doing Anambra State proud with their skills and talents.
Dr. Nwadinobi noted that Anambra State proudly participated in the national BESS Games, 2024 due to the strong support from the State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, whose passion for an all round education of Anambra children is unprecedented.
She observed that the days when sports was seen as a business for loafers are over, noting that sports has become a huge source of living for youths with the requisite talents, calling on parents and teachers to guide the children to discover their hidden talents and encourage them to develop their skills to stardom.
Meanwhile, the oath of fairness at the competition was taken by an Anambra athlete, Master Onuorah Praise on behalf of all the athletes in the BESS 2024 Games.
Highlights were presentation of medals and trophies to the winners in various categories, while awards were presented to the Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, and the invited SUBEC Chairmen and their State Governors were also presented with gold medals for supporting school sports and allowing their pupils and teachers to participate of which the Executive Chairman of ASUBEB, Dr. Nwadinobi received on behalf of the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Soludo.
