… Seeks New Sports Talent Among Students
The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Education District I, Agege, Barrister Margaret Titilayo Solarin, has advocated the discovery and celebration of new sports talent among students, as a way to catch them young and enhance their prospects to represent Lagos State and Nigeria at international sporting events.
Speaking at Agege Stadium in Lagos, during the annual Sports Festival organised by the District, Barrister Solarin said the festival was designed to promote sporting activities among schools in the district and to redirect the energy of the students to more healthy and profitable activity which will help in building their sporting careers.
She explained that the festival had earlier began with the Zonal elimination series which took place from Monday 21st to Tuesday 22nd June 2021, in the three zones within the District for selection of the best athletes among the competitors.
Her words: “We believe in a total education. When you are good in academics, you should also be good in co-curricular activities like this. We want new talents to represent Lagos State and Nigeria at international sporting events. I am happy that we are adding new talents who will be useful to themselves, the State and Nigeria as a whole in future”.
“Physical activities are vital to the holistic development of young people in schools. A nation without a strong sporting programme in the school system is bound to have a faulty foundation for sports development. Sports festivals like this will produce citizens that are physically fit. We in Lagos State are set to make school sport the bedrock of sports development”, Barrister Solarin added.
While urging the students to see the sports festival as a competition and not a do or die affair, Solarin congratulated the winners and advised those that did not win not to relent in their efforts, stressing that their determination and commitment will ensure their success sooner than later.
She also thanked the teachers, describing them as committed, diligent and always ready to groom, mentor and coach the students to achieve great feats.
Her words: “I must also thank you, especially the Principals, for creating a conducive atmosphere which has ensured the success of the students through the guidance and mentorship of the teachers”.
The Director of Sports, Education District I, Mrs. Lade Esther Akande, reiterated the need for discovering new sports talents through the festival, saying it would go a long to make the students contribute meaningfully to sports development in the State, the nation and the world at large.
She, therefore, urged the students not to stop practising their various sports but should continue to improve on their training so that they can achieve great feats in the nearest future.
