•Mr Tunde Akinyemju, chairman, Dansol Christian Mission, presenting the winning trophy to the house captain of Red house (middle). She is flanked by second placed Cedar House captain (right), and third placed Olive House captain (left).
The 11th inter house sports took a special meaning at Dansol High School, Agidingbi, Ikeja, because it happened just after its 20th anniversary.
The four houses, Vine (Purple), Cedar (Green), Olive (Yellow), and Palm (Red) worked hard in the march past and athletics events held at Agege Stadium, Lagos.
The colourful march past featured a lot of acrobatics by the houses and well-dressed kings and queens.
When it was done and the business of athletics got underway, Vine House gave others reasons to worry.
The Invited Schools’ relay was also keenly contested with Strong Tower Academy, Ikorodu winning the gold in the boys’ category. Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja, won silver, while Cayley College, Agidingbi won bronze. In the girls’ category, Wellspring College, Omole, came first, Strong Tower Academy, second, and Doregos Private Academy, third.
The sporting event was not all about the children. Parents, grandparents and also participated. The grandparents’ race was particularly interesting. Grandmothers danced to the finish line picking gifts along the way. Mrs Adun Akinyemiju, Director of the school, danced gracefully with them.
Speaking about the benefits of sports to school children, Mrs Akinyemiju, said they learnt to cope well with various emotions.
“Inter house sports competitions are meant to train children in the spirit of sportsmanship. They learn to take it when they lose, to rejoice when they win and they should still love each other in spite of winning or losing,” she said.
Elder Niran Olowe, the school’s Sports Director, said the competition has exposed a new crop of talents.
“Right now I have picked my relay team that will be representing the school. In the junior category, they will continue training so they can graduate to the intermediate; then from intermediate team to the senior; then they automatically qualify to enter the school’s relay team,” he said.
‘Education incomplete without sports’
Principal of Wellspring College, Omole, Mrs Oluwayemisi Oloriade, has underscored the importance of education to sports.
At the 10th inter-house sports competition of the school held at Agege Stadium, Lagos, Mrs Oloriade, said equal attention should be given to sports, which is part of learning because it helps brain development.
“Education is not complete without sports. In education, we have three domains – the cognitive, which deals with intellect; the affective, which deals with behaviour, attitude; and the psychomotor, which deals with sports. So education is not complete without sports. It goes a long way to help the child develop very well. It helps the brain to be more active; it also helps the child to be more alert in any area,” she said.
Advising parents to pay attention to their wards’ wellbeing, chairman of the occasion, Mrs Ore Famurewa, who is also Corporate Affairs Director, Friesland Campina Wamco, said nutrition in addition to an active lifestyle helps children learn better.
“When a child is learning, it is equally important for that child also to keep fit. That is why we believe as a company that inter-house sports go hand in hand with learning and nutrition,” she said.
Though the Tug-of-War event, arguably the highpoint of the annual inter-house sports competition was inconclusive this year because the rope was weak, the games were not lacking in excitement.
Seun Ajidagba, compere for the event, lived up to his usual performance as announcer and comedian for the games. He left parents in stitches with his funny comments.
Grace (Blue), Favour (Green), Goodness (Red), and Praise (Yellow) houses battled gallantly for laurels in 22 track events that featured in the finals, including sprints, relays and lime and sack races.
Proprietor seeks govt support for sports
Proprietor of Mictec International Schools, Dr Michael Tejuoso, has appealed to the Lagos State government to support private schools to enhance sports development.
Tejuoso, who spoke at the 2nd combined inter-house sports competition of the Mictec Schools located in Ogudu and Oko-Oba , said the support could come in form of ease of getting land for schools and reduction of dues/taxes.
The proprietor said the school does not hold the sporting event yearly because of lack of space, which is hard to come by in Lagos.
“In Nigeria, particularly Lagos, we have not got the support from government. You hardly see private schools that have sufficient space for sports. We find it difficult to make this inter-house sports regular because of lack of space. They should follow the concept that education is a social service. But annual dues for private schools go higher every year. It is not so abroad where government gives support to schools to build a total child. We are paying exorbitantly to use this government stadium. There should be a kind of duty-free facility for anything that has to do with education,” he said.
Dr Tejuoso said the combination of the inter-house sports of the school’s two branches has fostered unity, cooperation and friendship among teachers, parents and pupils.
On his part, chairman of the occasion, My Ige Adetayo, urged government to send representatives of inter-house sports competitions to sport talents which can serve the country in future.
Adetayo, who was very impressed by the performances of the pupils, both in sports and various choreographic presentations, underscored the need for a talent management programme for them.
“These are the places they need to come to catch them young. I like their assimilation. I am amazed at what they have done. If they can do this, it shows that their future is very bright,” he said.
At the end of the competition, Onyx House came first; Emerald, second; Jasper, third; and Beryl, fourth.
Obi House wins N50,000 at Queen’s College
For winning the 54th inter-house athletics competition of Queen’s College, Yaba, Obi (Yellow) House got a special gift of N50,000 from the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Shuaibu Muhammed Lawal.
The gift announced by Lawal, Managing Director of ALZAB Oil and Gas Ltd, was greeted with excitement at the end of the competition.
Obi, which had 14 gold, eight silver and 12 bronze medals, was followed by Obong (Orange) with eight gold, 11 silver and seven bronze medals in second place. Efunjoke (purple) came third with six gold, seven silver and six bronze; while Emotan (Green) was fourth with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
Obasa (Blue) and Danfodio (Red) came fifth and sixth.
The highlights of the competition held at Queen’s College Sport’s Ground, were the entertaining March Past and the calisthenics display, which is traditionally reserved for SS2 pupils of the college.
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