By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON, Kaduna
Five schools from Kaduna metropolis participated in the Lucrative Youth and Sports Drug Abuse Sensitization Games held at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
Little Scholars Schools dominated the badminton event, while Rimi College dominated the cycling event.
Little Scholars picked the gold medal in the male and female badminton event, Kamlik followed suit as they also claimed silver medals in both events, while Almanar Academy in similar fashion, settled for bronze of both events.
In the cycling event, James Samaila and Kelvin Linus of Rimi College picked gold and silver medals respectively, leaving the bronze for, Mohammed Isa Mohammed of Almanar Academy.
Mufnaj Schools however failed to win any medal.
In an interview with newsmen, MD/CEO of Lucrative Youth and Sports, Suraj Ola Abdulwahab said that the event was organised to create awareness of the importance of balancing play and work for students, as a means of taking their minds off drug abuse.
“The idea was borne out of passion of bringing out the best in our students. It is a community outreach work, with is an extension of similar projects we have been doing.
“The idea is to get young people motivated. The motivation of children is play and if they are not getting enough of play, they don’t perform well,” he explained.
Abdulwahab said that Lucrative Youth and Sports has within its five years of existence, developed sports play ground for several schools.
Also speaking while fielding questions, a supporter of the community outreach, Catherine Madaki said that the event was all about sensitizing young people about the dangers of drug abuse and importance of early involvement in sports.
“A lot of awareness needs to be created because when I was younger, there was more indulgence in sporting activities than is obtainable now. My passion is to see young people get engaged in sports from the age of nine so that Nigeria can go back to its winning ways internationally like it was in the past,” she said.
In an interview, 10-year old Aisha Aliyu Usman, a JSS 1 student of Little Scholars Schools said that she learnt that it was important for schools to be equipped with sports facilities.
“I also learnt about the dangers of drug abuse,” she added.
For Yahaya Yakubu of Almanar Academy, the outreach was a good forum for interaction and making good friends.
“I have met new friends and interacted. I want to advise all my friends, co students and all the youth out there to embrace engaging in sporting activities and avoid drug abuse.
In the football event, Private Schools team beat Public Schools 1-0.
