2024 ONDO BESS: AKOKO EMERGE OVERALL WINNERS
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2024 ONDO BESS: AKOKO EMERGE OVERALL WINNERS
Akoko Zone has won the 2024 Basic Education School Sports Competition (BESS) held at Aquinas College, Akure.
In the two-day competition, organised by Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Ondo Zone came second, Okitipupa 3rd while Akure and Owo zones finished in 4th and 5th respectively.
The five sports zones of the state showcased their skills in Scrabble, Chess, Ayo Olopon, Table Tennis, as well as in Track and Field, with Akoko Zone coasting home with the coveted trophy.
In his remarks, Chairman, Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, Victor Olabimtan said the main objective of the competition was to harness the potential of the children, develop their skills at a tender age for self-sustenance and serve as a bedrock for national sports development.
Rt Hon Olabimtan disclosed that UBEC and SUBEB, recognising the importance of school sports as well as the existing gap, complied with the National Council on Education (NCE) directives by setting aside funds for sports development in schools, aiming to promote sports at the basic education level.
He added that the early introduction of sports into the lives of the pupils will help develop their cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills, with a view to sharpening their intellectual minds and fostering unity among them.
According to him, “Basic Education School Sports (BESS) is the foundational programme developed to harness the sports potential embedded in learners and it further reinvigorates the practice of sports in basic education.
“If we are able to catch them young, it will provide the pupils with all-round and robust development, promote the maxim of a sound mind in a sound body, reduce restiveness and indiscipline, and inculcate the intrinsic values of sportsmanship, teamwork, and fair play.”
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Boboye commended Ondo State for assembling young athletes for the competition, saying that a lot of talent has been discovered through Basic Education School Sports.
Represented by Mr Kuulah Mashi, he praised the Chairman of Ondo State SUBEB for attending the event in person despite his tight schedule.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, Chief Bamidele Akinnagbe, disclosed that the state contingent was the overall winner of the South West zonal competition held in Ado-Ekiti in January.
The SUBEB Sports Desk Officer, Mrs. Folake Olagundoye said the outstanding athletes among the pupils would be nurtured to become future stars for the state, the nation, and the world at large.
According to Mrs Olagundoye, “This competition will also be used as preparation for Ondo State’s participation in the national competition scheduled for November in Abuja.”
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