IBADAN/Nigeria: In a resolute move towards fostering sports development at the grassroots, the Oyo State Government has emphatically reiterated its commitment to nurturing sporting talent at the primary school level. Officials have declared their belief that the state’s pupils are poised to become dominant forces in national sporting events.
Mr. Jacob Dairo, the Co-ordinating Director of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, passionately conveyed this vision at event mark the distribution of vital sporting equipment generously donated by the Oyo State Government in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to a total of 82 primary schools. The distribution ceremony took place at the board’s headquarters on Tuesday.
Mr. Dairo ardently articulated the board’s mission, not only to reclaim the state’s premier position in primary sporting activities but also to elevate school sports to an esteemed status throughout Nigeria. The benefitted schools received an assortment of sporting equipment, ranging from handball goalposts, nets, and skipping ropes to table-tennis bats and nets, handballs, and badminton rackets. These provisions were dispersed among schools situated in the three senatorial districts of the state.
As the head of the Board’s Schools Services department, Mr. Dairo elaborated on the origins of this endeavor, crediting Governor Seyi Makinde for initiating the delivery of these sporting items. The primary objective of the event was to officially inaugurate the distribution of these resources to various schools across the state. Mr. Dairo emphasized that the intention behind this initiative was to instill a sports culture from an early age, enabling pupils to actively engage in sporting activities.
Highlighting a strategic plan to harness young talent, the co-ordinating director unveiled the government’s intention to orchestrate inter-school sporting competitions at both local and zonal levels. These competitions would culminate in an ultimate winner who would represent the state in national competitions. Mr. Dairo passionately implored the recipient schools to cherish and utilize the equipment judiciously for their intended purpose.
Beyond the sporting realm, Mr. Dairo disclosed another noteworthy initiative: the commencement of the Agricultural Education Training Programme for 73 primary schools. This program aims to equip various stakeholders, including Education Secretaries, Head of Section, school services personnel, Head Teachers, Agricultural Studies teachers, and representatives of the School Based Management Committee (SBMC) from diverse local governments. The government has allocated funding for this agricultural training program across the state’s 33 local governments.
Mr. Dairo elaborated on the program’s far-reaching impact, where trained individuals would in turn educate pupils on essential agricultural practices encompassing crop farming, snail farming, and livestock husbandry. In order to ensure accountability, a vigilant monitoring team would oversee the proper utilization of allocated funds for the training program within schools.
Praising the government’s foresight, Com. Raji Oladimeji, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State Chapter, commended these initiatives as they have the potential to revitalize dwindling sporting activities in public primary schools. Comrade Adedeji Adekunle, Chairman of the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Oyo State branch, echoed these sentiments and extended appreciation to Governor Makinde for his unwavering support towards comprehensive basic education in the state.
Speaking to the transformative power of the agricultural training program, Deacon Adegbite Omoniyi, Zonal Chairman of the School Based Management Committee, Egbeda Local Government, stressed that this initiative would kindle a passion for agriculture among the younger generation. He further affirmed the dedication of the SBMC and other stakeholders in propelling agricultural advancement within schools.
The Oyo State Government’s dual commitment to sporting excellence and agricultural education at the primary level stands as a testament to its visionary approach in fostering well-rounded, skilled, and competitive individuals poised for success on both the sports field and the farmland.
