By Stanley Onyekwere
Fifteen schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Suleja, in Niger state took part in the just concluded inter-schools chess competition, for the development of the minds and mental capabilities of students.
At the end of the event organised by the Olumawu Basic Education School, in Wuse district of the Territory, Federal Government Academy, Suleja, emerged overall winner of the competition, and was presented with a gift in honour of the late founder of the school, Mrs. M. Audu.
Speaking at the event, a member of the governing council of the school, Mr. Ola Garuba, said the competition was aimed at building a well-rounded education as well as creating a chess community among schools in the FCT and the country at large.
He added that children have varying talents and various areas of harnessing such talents must be looked into; “so, we identified chess to train or develop the minds of the children and their mental capabilities.
“There have been good correlations between the students participating in the competition and their academic performances. The competition is one of the techniques designed to deviate students’ attentions from the social network platforms, which now occupy their minds.’’
Garuba, however identified resources and creating awareness among the schools as some of the challenges facing the competition but expressed happiness that the competition has produced students that represented the country in international chess competition.
Peoples Daily reports that for the primary school category, Tender Year School emerged winner while the host school came second.
