A school proprietor, Mr Joel Oyewole, has identified inter-house sport competitions as a way of discovering the potential of gifted students early and grooming them for the future.
Oyewole, Director of Child’s Will Group of Schools, Surulere, spoke in Lagos on Saturday.
He said that such competitions were also necessary in developing a total and balanced child, who should be prepared both academically in the classroom and helped to hone his skills in sports and other areas.
“The government has been encouraging us to engage and give students opportunity to be exhibiting their talents and skills, so that we discover what is them apart from classroom work,” the educationist said.
He, however, said that venue was sometimes challenging for some schools in hosting such sporting competitions and sought more support from local and state governments in sustaining such activities.
He said that the importance of having an environment that was conducive to hosting such activities could not be overemphasized, in helping the students to discover themselves.
“We are making this appeal, especially the local government here in Surulere, that we should be given sporting facilities for students to be training, having recreational activities and inter-house sports like this,” he said.
The proprietor, whose school had its 7th Bi-ennial Inter-house Sports at the NPA Sports Centre, Surulere. on Saturday, said it came after a break due to the Coronavirus which emerged in 2020 in the country.
“The last edition was held in 2018, we couldn’t observe subsequent editions due to the outbreak of Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) which affected lots of programs,” he said.
He, however, expressed delight seeing students exhibit skills in various events at the sporting competition, which he said, also helped in developing in them the spirit of sportsmanship.
“I am the most excited person today, having the students, parents and members of staff gather here and participating in our inter-house sports which was held last years back, I give glory to God.
“We can see the students are excited participating in all the lined up events which they have been preparing for and they are competing with one another in a friendly atmosphere,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Wole Sogunle, a journalist, who was Father of the Day, while commending the school and sponsors for a well-organized event, described such programs as important in the development of a child.
He said inter-house sports is an avenue for talent discovery and physical fitness, and urged parents not to discourage their children who had skills in such area.
“The school, stakeholders and participants of this inter-house sports have done well for their commitment in putting up this event, particularly for reviving it after some years.
“The students put up impressive performances and you could see the excitement of parents who cheered them on.
“ It also helps bonding in the family, which is good,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Oluwatosin Bankole, Chairman of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), expressed delight over the program.
He said such programs bring excitement and promote spirit of sportsmanship amongst students.
Bankole said that the PTA would endeavor to support the school in making sure that the revived inter-house sports is observed biennially as desired since the school’s establishment in 1998.
“The PTA is happy that the inter-house sports is back with more events because I am sure past students students of this school have missed the program which we always look forward to,” he said.
NAN reports that Houses, with the colors Green, Yellow, Blue and Pink had participants in various events, such as march past, athletics, slippers race, picking the ball, filling the bottle, amongst others.
The Yellow house came tops in the primary school category, while the Blue house won in the secondary school category.
