We celebrate sports talents in every child in this school and we help parents to see that the talents can be profitable if groomed and well harnessed for the future.
The non Nigerian head teacher; Griffiths, has always maintained that “starting early and grooming them young is the way to go if Nigeria would get it right on school sports development.” She further said, ‘the school management understands the importance of sports in a teaching and learning environment,’she urged that “other schools to follow suit to nurture, develop and expose the greatness of their children in their various choices of track and field potentials.”
One of the high points of the day was the tur of war competition between the parents of the pupils and their teachers. This was a whole lots of fun for pupils as they watched both sides displayed strength as they pulled the tug of war rope.
At this point, the children were already divided, while some wanted their parents to win, the other were on the side of their teachers as they cliched with muscle pull on rope withe zest not to disappoint their pupils who were giving them cheering supports.
But, there was no winner neither was their a loser at the en as adjudged by umpires but it was keenly contested one which eventually saw the parents and teachers bond and cheering to the admiration of the pupils and the school administrators.
“The School since opened on April 23, 1951 has kept the faith and has even expanded in different frontiers on sports not only to showcase and develop young talents and but also to exhibit good sportsmanship,” said Falope.
He added that “Nigeria can be great in the global stage of sports and athletics competition and not just in academics and this is what today’s event has achieved. We will continue on this annual inter-house sport athletics competition among other exposure for these children.”
Thus, parents, Board of Trustees, School Administrators, Alumni, Teaching and Non-teaching staff of the first missionary school in Nigeria were cheerful with applause as they spent their Saturday watching a keenly contested 100 meters, 200meters and relay races among the four competing houses- Blue, Yellow, Green and Red.
Other competing races that the overall winner emerged from includes; -50 metres race- Class 1 Boys and girls; Class 2 boys and girls, -Bean Bag toss- Class 1 Boys and girls, -Filling the basket, – 60 metres race, – Filling the bottle, – Collecting balls, – Nursery Race, – Sack race, – Lime and Spoon, – 4×50 metres race and Tug of war.
The PTA said that parents will continue to give their supports to the School to deliver on the mandate sports.
“This is so because believe we can produce the next athlete that would make Nigeria Proud from this school and among these pupils. And the parents, alumni and the administrators are being innovative and uncompromising for all round development of the children”, said, Falope.
And with the drums and disc Jock sounds and all jubilant atmosphere, accompanying the song; ‘stand up, for the champion, for the champion, for the champion, stand up’, the scoreboard was raised and Green House was officially announced as the overall winner with a total medal haul of; 12 gold, 9 silver and 8 bronze medals.
With 9 gold, 10 silver and 7 bronze medals Blues House came second; Red House closely followed with 8 gold, 7 silver and 10 bronze medals for the third position, while with 4 Gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals was announced for Yellow House for the fourth position.
