BENIN CITY: The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to youth development through sports, describing athletics as a vital tool for promoting discipline, resilience and teamwork among young people.
The Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Charity Amayaenvbo, gave the assurance on Thursday during the 16th Annual Inter-House Sports Competition of Command Children School in Benin City.
Amayaenvbo, who attended the event as special guest of honour, commended the Nigerian Army and the school management for using sports competitions to build character and leadership among pupils.
He noted that sporting activities provide young people with opportunities to develop essential life skills beyond the classroom.
“Sports competitions like this are not just about winning medals or trophies; they are about discipline, teamwork, courage, resilience and leadership — values that the Nigerian Army represents and values every young person should learn,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the performances displayed by the pupils highlighted the importance of dedication, teamwork and perseverance.
He assured that the state government would continue to partner with institutions and organisations that promote youth development through sports and other constructive activities.
“The state government is proud to partner with you in youth mobilisation through sports as we continue to mould our children and imbue them with the spirit of discipline and hard work,” he said.
Commander of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, described the inter-house sports competition as a long-standing tradition in command schools aimed at promoting fitness, teamwork and healthy competition.
Balogun said the programme aligns with the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy, which places strong emphasis on training and capacity development.
“Training and retraining remain the only panacea for fitness and relevance in any endeavour, especially in the lives of our young children,” he said.
The competition featured track and field events, including the 200 metres, 100 metres and 50 metres races for senior, junior and nursery pupils respectively, as well as sack races and relay races.
At the end of the competition, Green House emerged overall winner, while Purple House came second and Blue House finished third.
Chief Godday Erewa, proprietor of Valley Stream British School, donated cash prizes of N250,000, N150,000 and N100,000 to the first, second and third positions respectively.
Amayaenvbo also presented additional prizes of N50,000, N40,000 and N30,000 to the top three houses, while Yellow and Red Houses received N20,000 each as consolation prizes.
