25 years after, FCT Schools sports festival returns

By Stanley Onyekwere

Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has revived the over 25 years abandoned inter-schools sports festival.
The Sports festival, which was also christened “ Nyesom Ezenwo Wike FCT School Sports Festival “ which climaxed yesterday, with various schools participating in different categories of sports.
Speaking at the grand finale of the festival, Wike who was represented by the Mandate Secretary, FCTA’s Social Development Secretariat (SDS), Aminu Ibrahim, disclosed that the sports festival would be an annual event, and will be used to harvest young talents across various the schools.
He also called on lovers of sports and other stakeholders to partner in developing the sports sector in FCT.
“The Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike FCT School Sports Festival has come to stay annually in FCT.
“We expect the support and partnership of our beloved parents and sponsors both nationally and internationally to make sports festival in FCT a tourist attraction “.
Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary, FCTA’s Education Secretariat, Dr. Danlami Hayyo said the Minister was intentional with the commitment to reviving the abandoned sports festival.
Hayyo noted that the festival which started at different eight zones, revealed that FCT has the capacity to become a hub where the country can rely on for resilient athletes.
He equally pledged that the administration will give sports development all that is needed to make it interesting and motivating to both pupils and students.
Hayyo noted that the education Secretariat was taking sports development seriously because it promotes integration and unity, while building friendship among the young people.
“ We call on all sports lovers to partner with the FCT, to make the honourable minister school sport festival, a point of tourism for sport grassroots development.
“ We want the world to see the FCT as a safe heaven to harness talents for sport in Nigeria and the world.
“ The minister of the FCT is a sport loving father and we trust grassroots sports will flourish during his tenure and we believe he will continue to support FCT in all areas of sports for success to be attained”, he stressed.
Meanwhile, the highlight of the festival was the presentation of trophies and medals to the individual athletes and schools for excellent performance.
For the Primary school category, the LEA Primary school, Kpadna emerged the overall winner with 7 gold medals; and in the Junior Secondary School category, JSS Gwako came first with 4 golds, while the Government Secondary School, Karu came first with 9 gold medals in the SSS category.