Top Rank Intellectual Academy, one of the private schools located at Akobo area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on Tuesday held its maiden inter-house sports competition.
The competition according to the Chairman of the school management board, Wole Akinbode, was to teach the children how to be competitive without stress.
At the epoch making event held at the new sports complex of the University of Ibadan were the elated pupils of the school, parents and guardians, invited schools and other invited guests.
Akinbode while speaking said that the inter-house sports competition has a lot of advantages the students will gain from.
He said, “Today is the inter-house sports competition of Top Rank academy. The school was established in 2013 and since then we have not had the opportunity to do inter-house sports competition. We have a believe that the inter-house sports competition has a lot of advantages, both mental and health, and also it teaches children on how to be competitive without stress and that is why we are here today.
“Now, the population of the school is around 250 currently and we have in each house, we have about 50 to 60 pupils participating today. And the categories ranges from what we called the playgroup, it runs across the primary, the preschool and the primary section of the school.
“For example, for all the events we have over 60 events that is taking place today. We have the gold, medal, silver and the bronze. And we also have trophies for all round best pupil in all the events. We also have cups for the all round first position, second and the third positions. We also have match-pass. We have cups for the well-behaved house, most beautiful house and a number of trophies to be won today. We are expecting to have another one in the next two years. It is not going to be a yearly event”.
Chairman of the occasion, Professor Femi Owolabi in his remark advised parents and schools to always allow their wards to participate in sporting activities.
He said, “Parents should endeavour to encourage their wards to participate in sporting activities in order to maintain healthy living and prevent obesity in children in our society.
“Even the Bible talks about exercising and sports being very good for the body and soul. The idea is that exercises and sports are very important for normal growth of children. When they exercise regularly, you will find out that they are healthier and stronger. They can eat better, they learn interpersonal relationship. They learn to combine work and play.
“No matter how intelligent you are, weak body is useless. So you have to strike between the two. What I told the school is that they should create a forum for regular exercise and sports.
“If you are not exercising regularly, the children will grow obese. And obesity is a problem. In our own time, in our own days, you will not see obese children. But, now you see them because they don’t do exercises. The parents should also allow their wards to do exercises regularly.
The Managing Director of the school Mrs Fadekemi Akinbode said the school would continue to produce future leaders by equipping them with top-notch academic trainings and sound morals.
She thanked parents, staff and other stakeholders for their contributions towards the success of the inter-house sports events.
At the end of the various events, Green house emerged the overall winner of the maiden inter house sports competition of the school.
Highlights of the occasion included the induction of some pupils of the school into the Nigerian Red Cross Society and the Scout Association of Nigeria.
