Ekocity Magazine with Agency report — Satisfied with the successful hosting of the maiden Lagos State Secondary School Traditional Games Championships, the Lagos State Sports Commission, says it will introduce leagues in four sports for its schools.
The commission’s Director-General, Adewumi Ogunsanya, made the assertion when he spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the closing of the three-day competition at the Campos Square, Lagos Island on Friday.
The competition, in which more than 28 schools competed in, Ogunsanya said, was designed to encourage the grassroots development of the games.
The traditional games featured at the championships are Ayo, Abula and Kokowa.
Ogunsanya told NAN that results returned from the various sports showed that there was a brighter future for youths in sports in the state; hence the government would not relent in promoting them.
“The commission is coming up with an arrangement that we will be experimenting on in the first quarter of next year. We want to start leagues in four sports for the secondary schools.
“With a successful experiment, we will move to other sports. We have about 38 sports associations in the state and there is no way we can embark on leagues for all the 38.
“We will have the four sports as pilot programmes, then, the success of those leagues will be moved to other sports and we will design sustainable programmes.
“The past games for the secondary schools have been hugely successful and the turnout very encouraging. This has encouraged us to do more for students,’’ he said.
NAN reports that in Abula, Ajeromi Ifelodun High School, Orile, emerged champion of the female category, while Eko Akete Senior Grammar School, Isale Eko, Lagos Island came second. Onike Junior School Ebute Metta was third.
In the male category, Cardoso Senior High School Orile, was the champion, Ajeromi Ifelodun Senior High School, Orile, second and Herbert Macaulay Junior High School, Yaba was third.
In the female category of Ayo, Khadijat Aminu from Lafiagi Senior High School, Lagos Island, defeated others to clinch the first prize.
The second prize went to Omosuyi Ayomide from Ajeromi Ifelodun Senior High School, Orile, and the third best player went to Blessing Sanni from Aunty Ayo Comprehensive High School, Ikoyi.
In the male category, Joshua Oke of Lagos City College, Sabo, Yaba, won the gold, while SundayNzurrum from Akoka Junior High School, Akoka, placed second
The third best player in Ayo was Babatunde Agoro of Ewu Titun Senior Grammar School, Oshodi.
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