Kunle ADELABU
It was another great pointer towards the revival of sporting activities in Nigeria educational system, especially at the primary school level, as Geoann Private Schools staged 2017/2018 Biennial Inter-House Sports Competition which afforded young talents to showcase their talents in different areas of sporting engagements.
Orewale (Red) House led other three houses with 11 Gold, 4 Silver, 6 Bronze to emerge the overall winner of the colorful and memorable sporting event which was held at Strong Tower Academy Sports Ground in Ikorodu, on Wednesday, March 26, 2018.
Pereirra (Yellow) House came second with 10 gold, 2 silver and 7 bronze, Greengrace (Green) House claimed the third position with 7 gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze while Aguda (Blue) House came fourth with 6 gold, 14 silver and 6 bronze.
Mr George Ijeh, Chairman, Board of Governors of Geoann Private Schools, in his welcome address stated that sporting activities are vital to the overall development of child’s development, adding that the school is placing premium on that.
“It is no longer news that sport is a globally acceptable catalyst central to the total education of the child anywhere in the world. This is because for the cognitive development of the child to have positive outcome, the psychomotor domain of the child must be functioning properly.
“In other words, a sound mind must exist in a sound body. Hence, for good reasons, we have chosen for this edition of our biennial inter-house sports the theme: “Sports for healthy living”.
“Sports promote healthier and happier living because of the physical activity involved. It contributes to muscle development coordination, heart and blood vessel health.
“It helps children develop healthy bones, stronger heart and blood vessels and powerful lungs. Being physical active as a child makes it more likely to continue playing sports as an adult, promoting lifelong health, according to the United Nations”, Mr Ijeh stated.
Mr Ndulor J.C, the Chairman of the occasion, in his address stated that:
“It is common knowledge that engaging in sport and physical activities is vital to good health. While people have sought after alternatives to remain healthy, all over the world, people are encouraged to take part in some sort of sport. This probably underscores the increased patronage of sport and fitness centres.”
“What, however, is not common knowledge is that there are overwhelming scientific evidences on the positive effects of sports and physical activity. The positive effects of engaging in regular activity are particular apparent in the prevention of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression and osteoporosis.
“Both within and outside school, physical education is essential component of quality education. Participants in such programmes have shown to have improved academic performance. Aside from this, sports provides healthy alternative to deviant behaviours such as drug abuse, violence and crime”, said the chairman of the occasion.
Alhaji Lookman Sonibare, the Chairman, Ikorodu Division Football Association (IDFA) and Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government Central Development Committee (CDC),while also speaking congratulated the school for organizing a successful sporting festival while also enjoining other private schools to emulate GOANN Schools in developing sporting activities among young ones.
He also advised parents to also cultivate the attitude of engaging their children and wards in sporting activities at home.
In the sporting activities competed in by the pupils at the biennial inter-house sports, Yellow house emerged winner in the relay race (male category) while Red house won the female category of the race.
Miss Awelewa Rachel (Red house) also came first in Walking with Mummy contest while Udia Kelvin, also from Red house, won the Walking with Daddy contest.
In the 75m race, Ishiodun Chima (Yellow house) won the male category while Esther Ehizojie (Green house) emerged winner in the 750m female category.
In the 50m race, Oloruntuyi Darasimi won the female category while Martin Promise emerged winner in the male category.
Moses Daniel (Green house) won the 100m race in male category while Oloruntuyi Oyindamola (Yellow house) won the female category of the race.
Omoghafo Emmanuel (Yellow house) won the male category of the 200m race while Junaid Hadeezah (Red house) won the female category of the race.
Also, while Martin Justice (Red house) won the male category of Filling the Basket contest, Olaosebikan Oluwaloba (Blue house) emerged winner in the female category.
In the Fill-in the Bottle contest, Onafowokan Fiyinfoluwa won the male category.
In the Dressing competition, Komina Precious (Red house) emerged winner in the female category while Adebami Okunade (Yellow house) won the male category.
Furthemore, in the Bicycle race, the duo of Adeleye Brian and Moses Daniel, both from Green house, won the junior and senior boys categories respectively.
Also,Red house emerged winner of the Match past event of the inter-house sports.
Other events competed in at the sporting festival were Walking in Mummy’s Shoes, Walking in Daddy’s Shoes, Alumni race, Parents race, Staff race and Management race.
