0
0
ONDO SUBEB BEGINS DISTRIBUTION OF SPORTS EQUIPMENT TO 64 SCHOOLS
The Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (ODSUBEB) has flagged off the distribution of sports equipment to sixty-four (64) beneficiary basic education schools across the eighteen (18) Local Government Areas of the State under the 2025 UBEC/SUBEB Sports Development Fund.
The flag-off ceremony, held at St. James’ Mega Primary School, Irowo, Akure, reaffirmed the commitment of the Ondo State Government to the holistic development of learners through quality education and sports development.
Delivering the keynote address, the Permanent Secretary of ODSUBEB, Princess Abike Bayo-Ilawole, Ph.D., described the programme as a clear demonstration of the commitment of the Ondo State Government, in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), to promoting the all-round development of pupils and students.
According to her, education goes beyond academic excellence, stressing that sports remain an essential component of the learning process by promoting physical fitness, discipline, teamwork, leadership, healthy living, and talent discovery.
She explained that the sports equipment being distributed would strengthen Physical and Health Education programmes in beneficiary schools and encourage increased participation in sporting activities across the State.
”The initiative is designed to identify, nurture, and develop young sporting talents who can represent Ondo State and Nigeria with distinction at state, national, and international competitions,” she said.
Princess Bayo-Ilawole expressed profound appreciation to the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for his unwavering commitment to the education sector and for creating an enabling environment for sports development in the State.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the sports items distributed include complete sets of jerseys, football goalposts for installation in schools, footballs, football boots, stockings, shin guards, and goalkeeper gloves.
She charged the beneficiary schools to make judicious use of the equipment and ensure proper maintenance to guarantee sustainability and maximum impact.
She emphasized that the success of the initiative depends on the collective responsibility of school administrators, teachers, and learners to preserve the equipment and utilize it effectively to improve sports participation, enhance learners’ well-being, and promote excellence in school sports.
In her goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, who was represented by Mr Aremo Ayodeji, a Senior Administrative Officer, UBEC, emphasized the importance of sports in the holistic development of pupils at the basic education level.
Dr. Garba noted that Physical and Health Education, alongside other extracurricular activities, plays a vital role in nurturing talents while promoting discipline, teamwork, leadership, and healthy living among learners.
She assured that UBEC remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote sports development in schools and urged beneficiary schools to utilize the equipment effectively to achieve maximum impact in advancing balanced education across the State.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ondo State, Comrade Ayodele Samuel Leke, assured that teachers across the State remain committed to ensuring that the sports equipment distributed to schools is effectively utilized to nurture young talents, promote healthy lifestyles, and complement academic excellence through a balanced educational system.
He reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to supporting policies and programmes that enhance teaching and learning while advocating increased investment in educational infrastructure, instructional materials, and continuous professional development for teachers.
Comrade Leke also expressed profound appreciation to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for approving the ongoing verification and interview exercise for applicants affected by irregularities during the last primary school teachers’ recruitment exercise in the State.
He described the Governor’s intervention as a demonstration of fairness, compassion, and commitment to strengthening the teaching workforce, noting that the exercise would restore confidence in the recruitment process and further improve the quality of basic education delivery across Ondo State.
The State Chairman of the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Comrade Olakunle Akintoroye observed that investing in sports is an investment in the future of the nation’s children, as it goes beyond academic excellence to develop the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of learners.
He stated that participation in sporting activities instills discipline, teamwork, leadership, resilience, and healthy living while also providing opportunities for pupils to discover and nurture their talents.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Director of Academic Services, Mrs. Foluke Fajana, stated that the annual distribution of sports equipment has become a sustained intervention of the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, reflecting its unwavering commitment to promoting sports development in public primary schools.
Mrs. Fajana noted that the distribution of the equipment goes beyond the provision of sporting materials; it represents the distribution of opportunities.
According to her, the initiative offers every child the opportunity to discover and develop hidden talents at an early age, enables schools to revive and strengthen their house system and sporting culture, and provides a platform for the State to nurture future champions from the grassroots.
According to a statement signed by the Media Officer in the Board, Banjo Egunjobi, the event attracted education stakeholders, school administrators, teachers, pupils, and officials of ODSUBEB and UBEC, all of whom commended the initiative as a significant step towards revitalizing grassroots sports development in basic education across Ondo State.
About The Author
