The Chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Femi Majekodunmi has said that the goal of the Basic Education School Sports (BESS) competition was to develop the skills of the learners and discover new talents among them at the grassroots level to represent the State at National and International Competitions
Majekodunmi made this known at the maiden edition of the Basic Education School Sports competition, held at the MKO International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.
He advised pupils in Public Primary Schools across the State to harness the potential embedded in sports by participating in various games and activities that would develop their cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills.
‘’Our young ones are the future of tomorrow that is why they must be treated well and exposed to sports activities like Football, Volleyball, Handball, Basketball, Chess, Scrabble, Judo, Taekwondo, and wrestling that will help to showcase their talents and discover them earlier”, he said.
According to him, “Ogun State Government through the State Universal Basic Education Board has been facilitating the qualitative learning process with the provision of quality learning materials, prompt payment of teachers’ salaries and allowances as at when due, regular training and workshops that will improve their skills and performances”.
He therefore urged the participating pupils in the competition to exhibit the intellectual abilities, and skill resourcefulness expected, for the success of this competition.
In the goodwill message, Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, represented by the Coordinator, UBEC Ogun State Office, Mr. Shola Badmus, stated that the competition would expose learners to sports at the basic education level, to develop the right sports values, right attitude about physical education, and promote institutional sports for talent identification and groom them for good sportsmanship.
Earlier in her remarks, Director of Academic and School Services, Mrs Kehinde Anifowose, said the maiden competition featured games and sporting activities amongst Public Primary Schools in the 20 Local Government Areas of the State.
She said the positive roles sports play in advancing national unity and ensuring basic education pupils are dissuaded from partaking in anti-social activities, cannot be underestimated.
