By Edwin Philip
The Chairman National Sport commission, NSC, Mallam Umar Dikko has promised the reawakening of schools sport in the country.
He made this known shortly after commissioning of multiple sports facilities at the sport complex of Page School in Abuja, FCT.
The NSC chairman said in most part of the world athletes are developed and nurtured by schools before they hit national and global limelight, commending Page School for being a shining light in that regards.
“I feel very much excited and honoured, the reason why I made all the effort to come here, because what they are doing aligns with what we are doing at the National Sport commission in conjunction with the federal ministry of education”
“To bring back school sports from the primary schools, secondary and tertiary institutions to the best level and in a coordinated manner” he said.
Mallan Dikko added that part of the strategic document of the National Sport commission and the Federal Ministry of Education is the directive and encouragement that all schools at every level must have proper sporting facility, structures of sporting activities, because it is the foundation of grass roots sport and aligning education and sports as it currently ongoing at Page School.
” Other schools would have used most of this land for building of class rooms, without thinking about this facilities” he said.
According to him, the sport facilities in Page School will be upscaled, encouraging owners and promoters of schools to see what is supposed to be done, as the facilities would not only serve the school but the community as well as earnings to the school.
He added that a joint committee, chaired by himself self and the Minister of Education are working on the strategy, which part of it is the creation of centre for excellence.
” Because each local government there should be one primary school, in the area that should be tagged center of excellence, we will pull the best talent in sports in the local government and put them in that school, then they have the best teachers and coaches while they are undergoing their education”.
“In the State there should be one secondary schools that should be tagged center of excellence, where the best talent can be put there, for each zone in the country at least they should be one university, tagged the center of excellence for sport, build the infrastructure there, so that the students can have a pathway in primary schools, secondary schools, as they are developing their sport carrier their education is not compromised” he added
He however said that are they invest in principal cups, University games, NIPOGA amongst others to bring school sports back to life.
He added that this year alone the NSC has sponsored University students to go to Germany for the world university games.
“We all know that if you have a child that wants to do sport, you know where to target, push him or her to the center of excellence, if you are there and you are good we give you scholarships, pay your parents some stipends until you get to the university where we can even pay you for being a sport person” he stressed.
On his part, the chairman of Page School Abuja, Air Vice Marshal Clement Ogbeche rtd. appreciate the NSC chairman for taking time out of his busy schedules to come to the school in person, acknowledging the effort of making the school as the centre of excellence in sport and education.
He stated that the school decided to depart from the usual school system to a more encompassing academic curriculum that have to be with global current realities.
He appreciated the teachers, students and parents for believing in the school and aligning with it vision and mission.
Speaking to newsmen, a representative of the students, Halima Murtala, said the putting together of the Sport will motivates her to practice more.
I feel like since we have a court now I will practice and be really good at it, maybe one day I will be in the championship or the Olympics” she said.
The facilities unvailed where a football pitch, volleyball court, basketball, lawn tennis among others, with a novelty football and basketball taking place, where the NSC chairman performed the ceremonial kick off in the football event.
The high point of the event was the presentation of plaque to the chairman of the National Sport commission, Mallan Umar Dikko.