OZORO/Nigeria: The 2025 Basic Education Schools Sports (BESS) Competition, organized by the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has concluded with thrilling displays of young athletic talent, resilience, and sportsmanship across Delta State.
The two-week-long grassroots sporting fiesta, which kicked off at the local government level and progressed through the senatorial stages, climaxed on Monday, October 27, 2025, at the Southern Delta University Stadium, Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area.
The event featured keen contests in football, Scrabble, table tennis, and track events such as the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relays, drawing participation from pupils across the 25 local government areas of the state.
In the football finals, Pessu Primary School, Warri South, defeated Obioma Primary School, Obinomba, Ukwuani LGA, in a thrilling encounter to lift the championship trophy. In the Scrabble category, Benita Okwuezulu of Owessei Primary School, Ndokwa West, emerged winner in the female segment, while Wealth Ezegbue of Nana Primary School, Warri, took the male crown.
For table tennis, Lucky Tejiri of Oreki Primary School, Ethiope West, proved dominant after an intense round of contests to clinch the overall title.
In the athletics segment, Ibina Favour from Oshimili North won the 100m female race, while Osiokor Simson of Ughelli North took the 100m male title. The 200m event saw Ineh Happy from Sapele win in the female category and Kemute Favour from Ughelli South dominate the male category. The 4x100m relay races were claimed by Isoko North, which swept both male and female gold medals through remarkable teamwork and speed.
At the end of the competition, Sapele Local Government Area emerged overall winner, taking home two gold medals and several other honors, while other LGAs put up spirited performances in various categories.
Speaking at the grand finale, the Executive Chairman of Delta SUBEB, Hon. Samuel Mariere, described the 2025 edition of BESS as “the first of its kind,” saying it was designed to identify and nurture sporting talents from the grassroots to the national stage.
“We are grateful to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the love he has for basic education and our pupils, inspiring them to become world champions,” Mariere stated. He expressed deep appreciation to the governor for his continuous investment in both academic and sports development across the state.
Mariere announced that Delta State will represent Nigeria at the forthcoming Under-15 Basic School Competition in Burkina Faso, adding that all winners from the state-level event will also compete at the National BESS Competition.
Encouraging the pupils to take sports seriously, the SUBEB Chairman described the competition as “the beginning of their climb to greatness,” expressing confidence that Delta’s representatives would “effortlessly win all medals” at the national and continental levels.
The event ended in celebration and excitement as teachers, pupils, and stakeholders hailed the initiative as a bold step toward reviving grassroots sports and building future champions from the basic education level in Delta State.
The name of the boy who took the crown in the Scrabble is Esegbue Wealth not Ezegbue.
He is my son.