School owners and educationists have called for increased support to develop school sports in Nigeria’s primary and secondary education sector. This appeal was made during the second Biennial Inter-House Sports Competition of Subtle Kids School, held recently in Akute, Ogun State.

Call for Public and Private Sponsorship

Oluwatoyin Latunde, proprietress of Subtle Kids School, emphasized the need for both private and public sponsorship to unlock Nigeria’s potential in sports and human capital development. In a statement seen by BrandIconImage on Tuesday, Latunde urged stakeholders to invest in school sports to nurture young talents.

Speaking at the event, Latunde highlighted the challenges faced by schools in providing the necessary resources and infrastructure for sports development. She stressed that discovering and honing raw talent among students requires strategic support from both the government and private sector.

Need for Strategic Policies

Latunde called on the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sports to implement policies that ensure the availability of sporting fields and competitions for talent discovery. She noted that most schools lack the facilities and resources to support sports development, as they are already stretched in providing quality education in STEM and vocational studies.

“There is still a lot to do to develop school sports,” Latunde said. “Our students have longed for a platform to showcase their talents. Both public and private schools need strategic support to develop school sports through deliberate efforts by government agencies if we truly want to tap into the potential of our youth.”

As a member of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Ogun State Chapter, Latunde revealed that the association is actively contributing to the development of school sports.

L-R Proprietress of Riverside Schools, Mrs Adewuyi Oladunni; Host and Proprietress of Subtle Kids School, Akute, Alhaja Olatunde Oluwatoyin; Proprietor of Almighty Elect Schools, Mr. Afolabi and Proprietress of Proficient Children Academy, Mrs Owolabi at the Inter-House Sport Competition of Subtle Kids School held last week at Twins Block Industry Ground, Alagbole, Akute, Ogun State
Support from Other Educationists

Mrs. Adewuyi Oladunni, proprietress of Riverside Schools and a guest at the event, echoed Latunde’s sentiments. She emphasized the importance of supporting school sports while maintaining a focus on premium education. Oladunni urged all interested parties to collaborate and develop a plan aligned with best practices to achieve this goal.

Highlights of the Inter-House Sports Competition

The event, held at the Twins Block Industry field, featured 24 race segments and a 4x100m relay race with guest schools, including Arits Private School, Dudley Reeves School, and Four Crown Private School. Parents also participated in the activities, which were organized by Coach F.A. Ilesanmi.

Blue House emerged as the overall winner, securing 26 medals, followed by Red House (24 medals), Green House (22 medals), and Yellow House (10 medals). Red House won the March Past category with 136 points. Favour Happiness was awarded the Best Athlete of the Year, receiving a medal and trophy from Latunde, who commended her outstanding performance.

Guests and Attendees

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Alhaji Latunde, Mrs. Owolabi (proprietress of Proficient Children Academy), Mr. Afolabi of Almighty Elect Schools, and scores of parents who came to support their children.

Key Takeaways

  • Call for Support: School owners urge public and private sponsorship for sports development.
  • Policy Advocacy: Strategic policies are needed to provide sporting facilities and competitions.
  • Event Success: The inter-house sports competition showcased student talent and fostered community involvement.
  • Collaboration: Educationists emphasize the need for collaboration to balance sports development with academic excellence.