Gudu archdeaconry on Saturday won the third consecutive trophy for the Mothers Sports Fiesta of the Abuja Anglican Communion.
Gudu, which had won the two previous editions of the fiesta, produced 63 points overall to lift the trophy for the 2014 edition.
Wuse and Mpape archdeaconries also registered their names in the trophy lift, having finished on the second and third with 56 and 54 points respectively.
Mrs Nkasiobi Okoh, wife of the Anglican primate said the sports fiesta had become an annual activity for Anglican mothers in Abuja to usher in the “Mother’s Day.’’
She urged mothers and upcoming mothers to be united with their families, even after the celebration.
“They should get ready because to form a family, you have to be united, and there must be love.
“You can see that in almost all the games we here, there is unity; if they are not united they will not be able to perform well.
“So, they have to make sure they are united with their husbands so that they will be able to pull the family through’’, Okoh said.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr Tolu Fakeye, thanked the organisers for the initiative, saying it would promote fitness and healthy competition among the participating archdeaconries.
He noted that mothers should be capable of undertaking many activities within the boundaries of the family and the larger society.
Fakeye pointed out that “physical fitness can only benefit our health if we routinely and frequently undertake physical exercises.
“Physical exercises are very important, upcoming mothers should therefore identify with activities like this and practise regularly.
“This fiesta means that the role of mothers is not limited to the home.
“They are also supposed to be part of the society in making sure that the members of the community can also be conscious of being fit’’, he said.
Mrs Ngozi Opara, whose archdeaconry, the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Apo, emerged as fourth best finishers, said the fiesta had come to stay in the mind of mothers.
“The fiesta brings mothers together, refreshes their mind, spirit and soul.
“It reminds us of what we are when we were young because we passed through all these in school.
“It shows that we are still able to do these activities and we are doing it to the glory of God’’, she said.
Opara noted that the sports fiesta was also to make mothers fit as they celebrated the Mother’s Day.
“Exercise also improves our health; so, that is another benefit of this sports fiesta.
“We have the guilds which are ladies looking forward to marry; the church brought them to participate in the march past, running, dancing and so on.
“It is for us to show example to these our young daughters that are coming up for them to know the importance of a family.
“You saw a family race that had father, mother and three children; so it is an example and pace we are setting for our children’’, she added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that eight archdeaconries among which are Cathedral, Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, Gudu, Durumi, Mpape and Gwarimpa took part in the fiesta.
Thirteen games featured at the fiesta, which included sack race, filling the basket, 100 metres race for men, boys, girls, and sisters guild as well as the 4 x 100 metres.
Three-legged race, tying of head tie, lime and spoon race, dance, march-past and filling the bottle with water also featured in the fiesta.
The fiesta attracted more than 3000 participants. (NAN)
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