By Uchenna Eletuo
The Director/Principal of Federal Government College (FGC) Ijanikin, Lagos, Mrs Tofunmi Akamo, has urged parents not to discourage children that show interest in sports from making a career of it.
Akamo gave the advice during the 45th annual inter-house sports competition of the school, held at its premises on Tuesday.
She said that sports is a lucrative and quick rewarding enterprise some young persons had gone into and made it big in life.
The principal said that sports was a means of livelihood for some athletes and urged young ones not to relent in sharpening their skills in such activities.
She encouraged such young boys and girls to choose role models among the best world athletes and work hard to be like them or surpass them in sports records.
Akamo said that the school inter-house sports, as directed by the Federal Ministry of Education, was to foster unity in diversity.
“It is also a way to enhance social interaction among the students that come from different social backgrounds.
“Sports is designed to inculcate the valued spirit of competition among our teeming learners.
“It provides opportunity for relaxation, entertainment and recreation for our learners,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students thrilled parents in several sporting events, winning different prizes.
In the Junior Girls athletics 100 metres event, Mbagu Oyinye from Macaulay house came first in 13.88 secs, Precious Okeke, also from Macaulay was second in 14.08 secs, Nwandinma Amarachi of Moremi house came third in 14.57 secs while Chizaram Njoku of El-kanmi house finished fourth in 15.10.
In the Senior Girls event, Gift Ogochukwu of Moremi house out-smarted others to clinch first position in 12.80 secs, Olayemi Akanbi of Macaulay came second in 12.81 secs, while Alimat Ligali of Oduduwa house was third in 12.98 secs.
Chikaima Uwanyanwu from Macaulay came fourth in 13.01 secs as Christabel Okeoma from Nnamdi Azikiwe house finished in fifth position in 13.06.
In the Junior Boys event, Kehinde Bello from El-Kanemi came first in 13.07 secs, Daniel Mminkwe of Nnamdi Azikiwe house was second in 13.07 secs, Yau Shuaibu from Macaulay house came third in 13.56 secs, Victor Obilor of Moremi house was fourth in 13.75 while Anthony Okeke from Jaja house finished fifth position in 14.12 time.
Some of the participants told NAN after the events that they were optimistic of making it to stardom in sports.
Gift Ogochukwu first prize winner for the senior girls event, said that she began preparation for the competition same week they resumed for the second term.
The 13-year-old athlete said that going to represent the country at Olympics was her main target.
“I want to be known in the world like Blessing Okagbare”, she said.
Kehinde Bello, who stirred public admiration with his zig zag running style said that he planned to improve on his previous performance.
NAN reports that medals, certificates and trophies were prizes given to winners at the inter-house sports.
Oduduwa House carried the day with 15 gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals to defeat the closest rival, Nnamdi Azikiwe House, which ended in the second position with 11 gold, eight silver and eight bronze.
Queen Moremi House came third with seven gold, 10 silver and nine bronze, while Maculay House, with five gold, nine silver and 10 bronze were placed fourth, leaving Danfodo House that secured four gold, nine silver and six bronze to occupy the fifth position.
El-Kanemi House made do with four gold, three silver and three bronze in the sixth position while King Jaja House was at the bottom of the table with no gold, two silver and three bronze.(NAN)
