By Ademola Orunbon
Four Schools representing Ogun State at the just concluded 84th Edition of the AIONIAN Festival of Games and Academic Competitions tagged; “Oluyole 2023, held at Ibadan Grammar School, has won 53 out of 95 available trophies and thereby became the Overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners of the competition.
Receiving the State contingents from participating schools on Thursday, which include, Abeokuta Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Remo Secondary School, Sagamu and Yewa College Ilaro, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu said the academic excellence attained by schools and learners alike was a reflection of four years investment of Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration in the education sector.
Prof. Arigbabu noted that a better way to complement the efforts of an administration that have contributed immensely to the overall development of the State, especially in the education sector, was to keep winning trophies for the glory of such a government.
The Commissioner, while commending the Principals of the AIONIAN schools, its coaches and the State contingents for their consistently outstanding performances, said the present administration in the second phase of its tenure would continue to invest immensely in things that would promote educational advancement.
In his remark, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Physical Planning (Enforcement and Survey), who was also an old student of Yewa College, Ilaro, TPL. Tunde Olugbewesa, applauded the efforts of the Alumni Association of the participating schools for their moral and financial support on the skill and academic development of the learners.
Speaking, the Principal, Abeokuta Grammar School who is the Chief AIONIAN, and doubles as the National Executive Officer, Mr. Dare Sorinola, said AIONIAN Festival of Games and Academics Competitions was the fore-runner of School Sports and National Sports Festival in Nigeria.
Sorinola said the objectives of the competitions were to exchange ideas, teach core values, promote integrity and fair play, produce responsible and worthy future leaders, improve physical and infrastructural developments of the schools, noting that the performance was as a result of Governor Abiodun’s interest in the education sector.
Speaking on behalf of other delegates, Miss Ronke Akanbi of Yewa College, Ilaro said 12 schools participated in indoor and outdoor games, such as 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,500, 4×100, 4×400 meters, high jump, javelin, shotput, discus, table tennis, lawn tennis, Scrabble, chess, spelling need, among others, revealing that quiz, essay competitions and assessment of the year 2022 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), was the major parameters for winning the games.
