… media conference holds Wednesday
… games kick off Thursday
The Eyoto Sports Academy, in collaboration with the Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), is set to host its fifth annual athletics competition from December 5 to 6 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
This year’s grassroots athletics tournament aims to discover and nurture more young athletic talents, particularly from schools in Benin metropolis.
The Eyoto Sports Academy Championship has seen many star athletes from indigenous schools gain sponsorship programs courtesy of the Executive Council of Eyoto Sports Academy under the leadership of its President, Chief Dr. Felix Idahosa; Vice President, Festus Idahosa Erese; Secretary, Sunny Okundolor; Treasurer, Friday Enoye and Head Coach, Edo State Athletics, Mutiu Oluwa.
In a pre-event briefing with The Nigerian Observer Sports, the organizers highlighted the program’s growth and impact.
Speaking, the President, Eyoto Sports Academy, Dr. Felix Idahosa emphasised Eyoto’s commitment to giving back to the community.
“If it’s one or two kids we are able to help, that’s enough for us. This is our ministry, to help the less privileged.
“There will be both medals and cash prizes. The Competition prizes will be the same as last year: N25,000 for the Gold medalist, N15,000 for the Silver medalist, and N10,000 for the Bronze medalist, while the Eyoto Cup will be awarded to the school with the most medals,” he said.
Dr. Idahosa maintained that the Eyoto Academy scholarship scheme will be sustained.
He further underscored the broader vision saying, “We are trying to give back to where we came from. I went to Asoro Grammar School and left Nigeria in 1980. What we are doing here is creating opportunities for young people.
“If those kids do well, they can attract scholarships from universities abroad, whether in Canada or the UK. That’s why we emphasise doing well in school and also training well to improve.”
Previous editions of the Eyoto Sports Academy competitions have produced remarkable success stories.
Mutiu Oluwa, head coach for athletics, shared one such story of Precina Oshonogo, the 2021 edition winner, who represented Nigeria in the 2024 Olympics.
“She wasn’t just there—she made it to the finals. Eyoto is our hope when it comes to catching them young,” Mutiu said.
Suffice to mention that the tournament’s category for Under-15 (U-15) athletes has produced and trained star athletes from Edo South, Edo Central, and Edo North Senatorial Districts.
Notably, Edo State has enjoyed the compliments of athletes from Eyoto Academy representing the State at higher levels of national and international competitions, namely the U-21 World Junior AthIetics Championships in Zambia in 2022, Paris Olympic Games in France in 2024, and a notable female athlete, Christina Ochologor who competed in long jump also at Peru World Junior in 2024.
According to the organisers, the 5th edition festivities will begin with a pre-event media conference on Wednesday at the Media Centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where current scholarship recipients will receive quarterly financial awards. This will be followed by meetings with coaches and marshals to finalize preparations.
This year’s competition which officially kicks off at 9:00 am on Thursday, with the finals and an award ceremony scheduled for Friday, targets only government schools because private schools’ students would be engaged in their first term’s examination this week.
Ten events for boys and girls will be competed for including, 100/200m Long jump, 400m, 800/1500m, 4×100, 4×400m relay, and medley relays, among others.
Over 500 notebooks, high-quality T-shirts, and banners are in place to ensure a well-organized event.
The Treasurer, Eyoto Sports Academy, Friday Enoye elaborated on the academy’s long-term goals stating, “We had a vision that we can make a difference in young people’s lives. Athletics was a natural start for us. The vision is to encourage young ones to go to school, participate in sports, and take any opportunity that comes along. We have it in mind to send most of them to America.”
While challenges such as limited support from the Ministry of Education persist, organizers have praised the Edo State Government for providing access to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and other facilities.
“The government has been very cooperative, and we say a very big thank you to them,” said Festus Idahosa, vice president of the academy.
The Eyoto Sports Academy Executive Council members hope the competition will not only uncover new talents but also inspire more young athletes to excel in both sports and academics.
