EDWARD OSEGHE AND CHIDINMA KALU
The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium beamed alive with excitement on Friday, March 28, as Cradle Montessori Nursery and Primary School held its 4th bi-annual inter-house sports competition.
The celebration of athletic talents held at the main bowl of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, brought together pupils, teachers, parents, and supporters under beautiful weather, which the school’s proprietress, Pastor Mrs. Josephine Atibi-Brown described as a divine blessing.
In her remarks, the proprietress expressed her joy at the success of the inter-house sports competition.
“It’s been a great day, a beautiful day. It’s pretty much so. It’s just not great, it’s a happy day for us. Education is not just about academics, it’s also about sports. From here, talents have been developed,” she said.
While congratulating the young athletes for their impressive performances, Atibi-Brown thanked the pupils, teachers, and parents for their unwavering support.
The competition featured five houses; Crystal House (White), Ruby House (Red), Emerald House (Green), Topaz House (Yellow), and Sapphire House (Blue) battling it out in a series of events.
The match pass results showcased tight competition, with Crystal House leading at 136 points, followed closely by Ruby House with 132, Emerald House with 126, Topaz House with 116, and Sapphire House with 108. The parents also joined in the fun, with match pass results seeing Crystal House parents securing the top spot at 48 points, followed by Ruby House (46), Emerald House (44), Topaz House (42), and Sapphire House (36).
Notably, the inter-house sports featured swimming, chess, and football among other games for weeks. The grand finale revealed the overall winners, with Emerald House emerging victorious and securing first place with 211 points. Ruby House grabbed second position with 208 points, Crystal House claimed third place with 205 points, Topaz House finished fourth with 184 points, and Sapphire House rounded out the rankings in fifth with 178 points.
The event which was not just about competition, placed a premium on recognition, gifting the student with the highest number of medals with a cash prize of ₦100,000. The best-performing teams were also awarded generously, courtesy of the Chairman of the occasion, Honourable Augustine Osawaru. The first place team received ₦150,000, second place – ₦100,000, third place – ₦80,000, and both fourth and fifth places received ₦40,000 each. Medals were awarded to standout students, and cups were presented to the winning houses.
The event underscored Cradle Montessori Nursery and Primary School’s commitment to holistic education, blending academics with sports to nurture well-rounded individuals.
