MASSIVE TURNOUT AS SOLUDO CONCLUDES THE ANAMBRA SCHOOL SPORTS COMPETITION.

June 25, 2023

In line with the administration's commitment to facilitating Grass-root sports development, Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Saturday 24th June, 2023 concluded the ANAMBRA SCHOOL SPORTS COMPETITION at the Anambra Capital City Stadium in Awka.

The program which recorded a massive turnout is targeted at promoting sporting activities in the state. The festival is a brainchild of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission, the sports management agency of the government signed into law in 2008 by the Anambra State House of Assembly and Domiciled in the Office of the Executive Governor.

The Sports initiative has thus far recorded positive outcomes and results in the course of the festival owing to the collaboration and synergy with the State's Ministries of Education and Local Government Affairs.

The event started with the National Anthem, after which the Anambra state anthem was recited following this protocol the Under - 17 Football finals which was between Burbedoof Memorial Secondary School, Adazi Nnuku and Washington Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha began and after the 90 mins time frame the match was over making room for other Track events such as Relay races, 100 and 200 meters race which were held at various intervals.

The Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Hon. Patrick Onyedum thanked the Governor for graciously approving the Festival which is the First School Festival in Anambra state after more than 10 years.In his opening speech He also stated that before now, a total of 610 primary and secondary schools in Anambra which comprised of 16,000 student athletes across the 21 local government of the state has enrolled to participate in this festival. The festival kick started on the 17th May, 2023 at the community level and progressed to the local government level before the Zonal elimination stages held on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th June, 2023. About 2,000 finalists who emerged from the Zonal eliminations level are competing for honors and podium finish in the state finals in 10 sporting events such as Athletics, Basketball, Chess, Football, Scrabble, Swimming, Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball and Cricket which commenced on Wednesday 21st June, 2023 and the Grand Finale being today.

He also noted that the Outstanding student athletes will go on to represent Anambra at the Upcoming National Youth Games which will hold in September this year and in furtherance the National Sports Festival to be hosted by Ogun State next year.

In his Closing remark Governor Soludo who was ably represented by His Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim thanked everyone present at the event, he also spoke about the administrations commitment to the development of Youths in the state. As sports is one of those areas that the Governor is looking into and not just for Track and field events but in a lot of other areas as well.

He further stressed on the need to not only eat healthy but to exercise healthy as this would increase Longevity recalling that the World Health Organization (W.H.O) put the average life expectancy of Nigerians to 55.65 years against 47 yrs which was the previous life expectancy.

He also noted that Sports Development has a Two(2) prong effect, the Child and Youth are developing themselves which inturn takes the youth off crime. The Soludo administration will continue to explore these hidden talents and expose them for the world to see. We hope to have more of this festival in a scheduled way that would begin to attract tourism and build our economy. He closed his speech by congratulating everyone present especially the winners of the competition and thank everyone for giving the due support to the governor's vision.

The Deputy Governor presented the awards to the winners of the various competition;

Final Football U-17 match: Washington Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha (Winner).

U-17 Girls Winners of the 100 meters race

1st Position - Nwankwo Lucy

Rosa Mystica College,Agulu , Anaocha.

2nd Position - Nwankwo Chigozie

Rosa mystica College, Agulu , Anaocha.

3rd Position - Chinecherem Okafor

Holy Queen College, Aguluzigbo, Anaocha.

U-17 Boys Winners of the 100 meters race

1st Position- Chibuike Edward

Dominican Sisters, Abatete.

2nd Position- Onyejekwe Akachukwu

Holy Queens Secondary school, Aguluzigbo.

3rd Position - Chibuzor Akanisi

St. micheals Comprehensive Secondary school, Nimo.

4 by 100 meters relays for U-13

1st Position - Orumba North

2nd Position - Onitsha North

3rd Position - Anaocha

And a host of other winners were announced after which a raffle draw where 3 winners were selected to win a bicycle each in which the Deputy Governor, Commissioner for Youth Development and the Chairman of the Sports Development Commission selected each of the winners.

Dignitaries present at the festival were the Commissioner for Education( Hon Chuma-Udeh), Commissioner for Youth Development (Hon. Patrick Aghamba), Commissioner for Local Government Affairs ( Hon. Collins Nwabunne), Director of Sports (Faith Okowonna) and many others.

*#progressivealliancemedia*