By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Executive Secretary, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr Jacob Dairo on Wednesday, said the board has kicked off the quarter-final stage of the Governor Seyi Makinde Basic Education School Sports Competition in the eight educational zones of the state from September 19 to 29, 2023.
Mr Dairo who disclosed that this is the maiden edition of the competition and that the board, with the support of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), kick-started the competition among schools in June 2023.
He stressed that the competition, which features athletics, soccer, handball and table tennis, was played in group stages, across the educational zones, namely Ibarapa, Iseyin, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Saki, Irepo, Ibadan main and less city zones.
Maintaining that the third-place, semi-final, and finals of the competition will be played in Ibadan after the ongoing elimination stage, he said the finals, where the winner would represent the state in the national competition, would be held at the refurbished Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, on September 29th, 2023.
According to Mr. Dairo the basic school pupils participating are in high enthusiasm and have exhibited brilliant performances and that all the public basic schools in the state enrolled and are taking part in the four selected games.
“We gladly inform our parents and dear stakeholders that our basic school sports has been scheduled to commence on September 19, 2023. With the huge support we have received from the Federal Government and the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration, we believe it will be a successful event,” he said.
Mr Dairo added, ” We started with an elimination stage across the educational zones, namely Oyo, Ibarapa Ogbomoso, Iseyin, Saki, Irepo, Ibadan less city and Ibadan main city”.
“Afterwards, we will play the final of the competition on September 29, where a winner who will represent Oyo State in the Nationals will emerge”.
Thanking Governor Seyi Makinde for approving the reintroduction of school sports in the state after over a decade and the tremendous support he had given the basic education sub-sector, Mr Dairo also thanked UBEC and the schools service department for putting up a satisfactory and impressive preparation so far.
