Ekiti Hosts South West Basic Education Schools’ Sports

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti state is hosting this year’s Basic Education Schools Sports, (BESS), Competition amongst the public primary schools pupils in the South West geo – political zone.

The competition, which kick started on Tuesday, in Ado Ekiti, attracted participants from states which form the south west.

Statistics on Medals Table in the games so far determined, shows that Ondo State is currently leading the pack with medals, a Gold in Girls 200 metres  and a Bronze in Girls 100 metres, while in the football match, Ondo lost to its neighbour Ekiti State 0- 1.

The final results of the following track and field events are being awaited. These are 200m Girls, 100m Boys, 400m Girls, 400m Boys, 4 by 100m Girls and 400m Boys.

According to the Ondo State Team Leader and Desk Officer Sports, Mrs Folake Olagundoye, high jump is also one of the events to be competed at the regional tournament.

Speaking on the essence of the event, Olagundoye observed that The Basic Education Schools Sports, (BESS), competition is an annual event sponsored by the Universal Basic Education Commission, (UBEC), Abuja in partnership with Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (ODSUBEB) and designed to exposed the pupils to sporting activities early in life.

According to her, all works without play is not good for the pupils cognitive development without the correspondingly developing their psychomotor.

She said that formal education in the four corners of a classroom is not enough to prepare  youths for the future challenge, hence there is need to develop their brains and body system through an effective  psychomotor mechanism.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji and top officials from the participating states are expected to grace the grand finale of the competition which comes on Thursday.

The National Grand Finale of BESS Competition is expected to come in the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja, later in the year.