Otuocha Zone has emerged victorious in the football category of the 2024 Under-12 Sports Competition, organized by the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB). Onitsha Zone took second place, with Awka Zone finishing third. The event, held at the Awka City Stadium, showcased young athletes from across Anambra State competing in various sports, including football and athletics, along with cultural performances and trophy presentations.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by Mr. Patrick Onyedum, Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Commission, emphasized the role of sports in education. Soludo credited his payment of the 2019, 2020, and 2022 UBE Grant counterpart funds as instrumental in enabling the competition. He highlighted sports as an essential avenue for talent development, citing notable athletes discovered through school competitions.
Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, represented by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Ifeoma Agbaizu, encouraged the young athletes to seize the event as a platform for showcasing their skills and urged them to pursue excellence with dedication.
ASUBEB’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Vera Nwadinobi, announced that the state’s performance in the ASUBEB 2024 competition qualifies Anambra’s team for the upcoming national sports event scheduled for November 6, 2024. She underscored the importance of sports in fostering well-rounded development in students, promoting intellectual, social, and physical growth.
Dr. Nwadinobi also reminded athletes of the values of teamwork, discipline, and fair play, emphasizing that the true spirit of sports lies in participation and sportsmanship.
Attendees included key ASUBEB officials, such as Mrs. Christiana Chukwuma, Director of Academic Services; Mrs. Anthonia Okoye, Sports Desk Officer; Lady Ify Anatune, ASUBEB Board Member; and Lady Stella Ezepue, Director of Quality Assurance. The recent distribution of sports equipment to schools across Anambra State enabled students to compete with enhanced resources in this year’s games.
