By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The maiden edition of Heritage Bank sponsored sporting event tagged Skoolimpics, wrapped up at the weekend in Lagos with a standing ovation.
The event, which took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, was attended by over 6,000 students from Lagos State’s public and private secondary schools. The venue was electrified and the children felt like the programme should not end.
The three-day school sports championships, fashioned in the tradition of the Summer Olympic Games, was supported by the Lagos State Sports Commission.
Students competed in five different sporting events like athletics, swimming, basketball, table tennis and handball.
At the carnival-like occasion, Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Mr Ifie Sekibo, in company of the Director-General of the Sports Commission, Mr Adewunmi Ogunsanya, who represented the Special Adviser on Sports to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Deji Tinubu, lit the Skoolympics’ flame with the Torch earlier carried round the stadium by Skoolympics’ Ambassador, Mrs Mary Onyali to signal the official commencement of the games which ended on Friday.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of the Sports Commission, Mr Ogunsanya commended Heritage Bank for sponsoring the games, reiterating the commitment of the state government to provide an enabling environment for the youth to showcase their talents in schools sports championships.
“Lagos is ever ready to create necessary platforms for the development of sports at the school level for our youth to develop their talents. It is our hope that the partnership with Heritage Bank will endure for bigger contents in the future,” Mr Adewunmi said.
On his part, Mr Sekibo said the organization of the maiden Skoolimpics in Lagos was a dream come true for the bank, adding that, “we are so glad that Lagos graciously accepted the partnership to develop our youth. This tournament has come to stay. This is a pilot edition which we are determined to improve upon every year.”
“Heritage Bank believes in creation and this Skoolympics is a creating process. There’s no doubt that we are creating the future champions for the country. Athletes who will be in the future like our Brand Ambassador, Mrs Mary Onyali, Chioma Ajunwa and lot of our great stars who had retired,” he said.