By Magnus Emuji
The Principal of Unity Secondary School, Asaba, the capital of Delta State, Mrs. Augustina Ezinwa Eze has called on corporate organisations and spirited individuals to complement the efforts of the state government in providing a conducive learning environment for students.
Mrs Eze made the call in Asaba while presenting her welcome address at the 2nd Annual Inter-House Sports Competition of her school which was held at the Government Model Secondary School playground.
She said that the school Inter-House Sports Competition would create opportunities for healthy competition among students, develop the spirit of teamwork, discipline and reduce to a very large extent their involvement in negative activities.
Mrs Eze maintained that gone were the days when sports were regarded as a waste of learning time in the school system, adding that sports were as important as academic activities in the classroom.
She asserted that sports should be given adequate space in the school programmes to help the students grow physically, socially and morally as well as develop leadership skills and a spirit of sportsmanship.
She explained that as a young school of five years old, the dream of Unity Secondary School was in need of ICT facilities, library, sports equipment such as table tennis boards, basketball courts and badminton.
Mrs Eze hinted that the school was on the verge of being accredited as a centre for WAEC and NECO Examinations and thanked the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for its support as well as SEPLAT Energy Plc for providing a STEAM laboratory in the school.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu described sports competition as the bedrock of sports development in schools where talents were discovered and groomed to represent the State at the national and international sporting tournaments.
Represented by a Deputy Director of Education, Dr Michael Emeshilli, the Commissioner stated that it was the reason the Ministry was keeping with the philosophy of ‘catching them young’ by making it compulsory for all primary and secondary schools to organise Inter-House Athletics Competitions.
Mrs Ezewu further described the State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as a sports-loving Governor, who she added was doing everything within his reach to give the State all the support geared towards driving the State to an enviable height in sports.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Comrade Mike Okeme, patron of the White House, Barr. Ben Okonkwo, the patron of Green House, Barr. Sam Chukwuji and the chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school, Mr. Eric Ejiro Onomibe said that sports were important in the life of every child.
Comrade Okeme, specifically emphasised that sports were meant to showcase the talents of the various students and urged the government to help harness such talents for the benefit of the child and society at large.
