Chinedum Treasure
Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) has attributed the successful hosting of 2024 Under-12 Sports Competition in the state to the ability of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to pay the accumulated counterpart funds for 2019, 2020 and 2022 UBE Grant.
Executive Chairman, ASUBEB, Dr Vera Nwadinobi disclosed this on Tuesday at Awka City Stadium during the competition organized in collaboration with Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Abuja.
The competition featured athletics, medal presentations, award of trophies to winning teams and cultural dance, with Otuocha Zone emerging the winner in the football category, while Onitsha and Awka Zones came 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Nwadinobi revealed that the organizing of the Competition would qualify the State team to participate in the national competition coming up on November 6, 2024.
She explained that sports play a vital role in shaping all round graduates who develop not only the intellectual aspect but also their emotional, social and physical aspects.
The ASUBEB boss urged the young athletes to exhibit teamwork, discipline and fair play, arguing that, “winning is not everything but participation, sportsmanship and having fun.”
Declaring the competition open, the governor underscored the place of sports in the academic life of the pupils, stressing that education could hardly excel without sports.
Soludo, represented by Chairman Anambra State Sports Commission, Mr Patrick Onyedum restated that his ability to pay the accumulated counterpart funds UBE Grant made the hosting of the sports competition possible.
“Sports is an avenue for talent hunt. Several notable sports’ personalities were discovered during school sports competitions,” he added.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh appreciated the Governor for paying the grant that made the hosting of the event possible.
The Commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Ifeoma Agbaizu described sports as opportunity to discover God-given talents and implored the pupils to be diligent in whatever they do.
“I want to thank the education-friendly governor for offsetting the counterpart funds. I urge the participants to seize the opportunity to harness and exhibit their God-given talents,” she added.
Among the dignitaries that graced the competition were Director Academic Service, ASUBEB, Mrs Christiana Chukwuma, Sports Desk Officer, Mrs Anthonia Okoye.
Others were ASUBEB Board Member One, Lady Ify Anatune, Director Quality Assurance, ASUBEB, Lady Stella Ezepue, Public Relations Officer, Lady Chinenye Anyakorah, among others.
ASUBEB had few weeks ago, distributed sports equipment and materials to schools in the State and were put to immediate use during the exercise.
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