Oshodi Rates Ibile Games 2015 High

As the Lagos State Secondary Schools Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games 2015 enters Day Five on Friday, Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Enitan Oshodi has rated the tournament high, commending the school athletes and officials for exhibiting spirit of sportsmanship.

Oshodi, who is the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, MOC, of the competition, particularly praised the athletes who are about 5,950 from 418 secondary schools in the state for conducting themselves very well. He said: “I wish to commend the athletes for their well behaved attitude and for showing good sportsmanship.

 I want to assured that Lagos will continue to invest in the development of sports at the grassroots, to develop talents and nurtured them to become champions not only for the state but for the country in general.”

The athletes themselves have been commending the state government for organising the games and for making available enough food and water for them. A taekwondo athlete from Oloruntele Integrity School, Meiran, Ojokoro, Lagos, Abdulsalam Ismaeel said:

 “ We are being fed two times in a day since the commencement of the games, this is good.” Meanwhile, the ongoing games has been yielding positive result as a gold medalist in the taekwondo event, Lawal Assisat of Great Everly College, Ikorodu, said that the laurel she won would propel her to do well at the 2016 National School Sports Festival. Assisat, who defeated Salau Maria, of Ifako Comprehensive College, in the final of 67kg, has never won a gold medal in all events she had featured in the past.

She said this laurel she won this year would motivate her to work harder She appealed to the Lagos State Taekwondo Association, LSTA, to organise regular competitions and workshops to enable the athletes keep abreast of latest trends in the sport, even as she wants provision of taekwondo kits to further motivate the athletes to excel.

Another gold medal winner, Zainab Ayoola Precious from Abesan Senior High School, who won a bronze medal at last year’s Ibile Games, said she worked hard to achieve the result. She thanked her coaches for keeping her in good shape.

Chairman, Lagos State Taekwondo Association (LSTA) Jimmy Ogunnowo, said the best athletes discovered at the games would be invited to camp where they would be training with the National Sports Festival bound athletes in order to further expose them.

 Ogunnowo, said the decision of Lagos State Government to make this year’s edition a secondary school based, fell in line with LSTA's agenda of developmental programmes where series of events have been designed for all categories of athletes, stressing that the 2015 Ibile Games is laudable tourney which helps various sports associations to discover school based talents.

Lagos Rewards 2014 Outstanding School Athletes

Lagos State Government yesterday rewarded 19 school athletes who distinguished themselves in their various sports in 2014. 

The 19 schools athletes showed exemplary and outstanding performances in all the school sports competitions last year. The event, which was held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, saw in attendance parents of the athletes who came to witness the epic ceremony. 

Lgaos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi who was ably represented by the Permanent Secretary Office of Sports, Mr.oluseyi Whenu,commended the parents of the rewarded athletes for their support . 

He also appreciate the awardees for making the state proud in 2014. "I want to urge other parents to always support their children who have interest in sports. The Lagos State Government will continue to reward athletes who are representing the state. 

The Director of Sports, Lagos State Sports Council, Dr Kweku Tandoh presented the athletes with Adidas gifts voucher and letter of commendations Responding on behalf of athletes Master Ikoko Onengo thanked the state for the award and also gave kudos to their parents for the moral and financial support. 

Morayo Okungbowa appreciated the state government for the award. Some of the awardee students are Magdalene George of C/S Comprehensive College, Ijesha and Ruth Usoro of National College, Gbagada who are competing in Athletics.

Badminton player Ogunsanwo Emmanuel of Yaba City College, Oyinlomo Quadre of Mary Anne College, Lagos Island (Tennis), Eniola Oladeji of Mobolaji-Bank Anthony Secondary School, Yaba (Gymnastics), Oladimeji Oluwaseyi of Bachel Model College, Ogba (Chess), Angela Osaigbovo of Grange College, Ikeja (Scrabble).

 Others are Ibikunle Daniel of Hero's Faith College, Ikorodu (Swimming), Adeoye Ahmed of Peterbay College, Orile Iganmu (Taekwondo) and Ibrahimon Rahmon of Herbert Macaulay Junior High School, Yaba (Judo).

300 Lagos Schools Register For Ibile Games 2015

  No fewer than 300 schools have registered to participate at the Lagos State Secondary Schools Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games 2015.

According to the Main Organising Committee, MOC, of the tournament, the registered schools are from public and private secondary schools that include Lagos State Government schools, Federal Government schools, military, missionary and privately owned secondary schools.

With the necessary arrangement now concluded, all is now set for Ibile Games 2015, which will hold from Monday, 26 January to 6 February. Chairman of the MOC, Mr.Wahid Enitan Oshodi, who is also the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development said all arrangements to stage one of the best secondary schools sports festivals in the country have been completed.

 "We are set for the games. From logistics to facilities everything have been put in place and we are good to go. Good citizens of Lagos State should be expecting 12 days of exciting and entertaining schools sports fiesta.

 "The objective is to discover more talents from our schools, both public and private, and to nurture them through exposure to more competitions," said Oshodi.

Interestingly, some of the Lagos State outstanding school athletes in the year 2014 will be on parade at the Ibile Games 2015.

 Among the students are Magdalene George of C/S Comprehensive College, Ijesha and Ruth Usoro of National College, Gbagada who are competing in Athletics. Badminton player Ogunsanwo Emmanuel of Yaba City College, Oyinlomo Quadre of Mary Anne College, Lagos Island (Tennis), Eniola Oladeji of Mobolaji-Bank Anthony Secondary School, Yaba (Gymnastics), Oladimeji Oluwaseyi of Bachel Model College, Ogba (Chess), Angela Osaigbovo of Grange College, Ikeja (Scrabble). Others are Ibikunle Daniel of Hero's Faith Colllege, Ikorodu (Swimming), Adeoye Ahmed of Peterbay College, Orile Iganmu (Taekwondo), Ibrahimon Rahmon of Herbert Macaulay Junior High School, Yaba (Judo) and a host of others.

 This year's games will feature sports such as Athletics (including Deaf Athletics), Chess, Gymnastics, Scrabble, Swimming, Weightlifting, Boxing, Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Badminton, Table Tennis (including Deaf Table Tennis), Tennis and Squash.

Registration For Ibile Games 2015 Closes 16 January

The Main Organising Committee (MOC) of Lagos State Secondary Schools Sports Festival tagged (Ibile Games 2015) has said that the ongoing registration for the competition will close on Friday, 16 January, 2015.

With two weeks to the commencement of the tournament, no fewer than 174 schools have so far registered to participate in the competition, which holds from Monday, 26 January - Friday, 6 February, 2015.

The MOC in a statement said that entry forms (sport by sport for schools), athlete’s individual registration and entry forms for participation in the games can still be collected by schools at Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, Institutional Sports Department inside Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Agege Stadium, Campus Mini Stadium, Lagos Island, Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island and all the Five Education Districts in Lagos State.

Permanent Secretary, Office of Sports, Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development, Sewedo Oluseyi Whenu said that Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN  has made available all resources and logistic support for a successful organisation of the games
Forms are available in Junior Secondary School category, Senior Secondary School category and open category - combined JSS and SSS.

The Ibile Games 2015 is for all public and private secondary schools in Lagos State that include Lagos State Government schools, Federal Government schools, military, missionary and other privately owned secondary schools.

The schools will participate in Athletics (including Deaf Athletics), Chess, Gymnastics, Scrabble, Swimming, Weightlifting, Boxing, Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Badminton, Table Tennis (including Deaf Table Tennis), Tennis and Squash.

Lagos Gives Sports Equipment To IBILE Games Winners

 

To aid sports development at the grassroots, Lagos State Government Tuesday gave equipment in various sports to local government councils and schools that won the state’s Sports Festival in 2012 and 2014.

 

Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi, who represented Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola at a ceremony to reward the winners at Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas inside Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, said that the government is passionately committed to the development of youth sports at the grassroots, hence the need to equip the local council areas which are closer to the people.

 

According to him, “when the competitions were staged in 2012 and this year, we gave out prizes and trophies to the winners, but Governor Fashola believes that there other ways to encourage these young boys and girls in their various sports. So we decided to give them this equipment for them to train, though these are not enough. We believe, however, that they would be encouraged and more importantly we must commended the Executive Chairmen of these local councils for their supports to these athletes and the sports ministry.”

 

On how the equipment will be well maintained at the local governments, the Commissioner disclosed that various Sports Officers attached to all the 57 council areas  in the Lagos State are well equipped and train to be the good eyes of the sports ministry, adding that there is no cause for alarm on the maintenance of the sports equipment.

 

Permanent Secretary, Office of Sports, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu advised all the local governments and the Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, public and private schools to be partners in progress with the sports ministry in the development of sports at the grassroots.

Winners in 2012 are Yaba LCDA in the first position; Bariga LCDA took the second position with Lagos Island Local Governments. In 2014 Lagos Island came first, Surulere was second and Ibeju Lekki was third.

Lagos Island Wins 2014 Ibile Games

The absence of Yaba LCDA may have paved the way for Lagos Island Local Government to emerge as the new winners of Lagos State Sports Festival tagged IBILE Games 2014, which was concluded at the weekend at Teslim Balogun Stadium.

  Lagos Island topped the medals table of the Senior Category of the Games with a total of 366 medals: 151 gold, 108 silver and 107 bronze medals.

  In the distant second position are Team Surulere that won 109 medals: 36 gold, 32 silver and 41 bronze while Team Ibeju Lekki came third with 93 medals: 29 gold, 27 silver and 27 bronze medals.

Team Ojo came fourth with78 medals:

25 gold, 29 silver and 24 bronze. In the fifth position are Team Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA) that won 63 medals: 24 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze.

  In the Junior Category, which featured secondary school students in the state, schools with best performance in each of the 20 sports in this category were listed out by the Technical Sub-Committee headed by Babatunde Fatayi-Williams.

  Team Lagos City Senior College, Sabo, Yaba were outstanding in the boys' category. They were the best school team in four sports Wrestling, Handball, Badminton and Squash, while in the Girls' category, Wesley Girls junior Secondary School, Sabo, Yaba out shined others in four sports: Weightlifting, Judo, Badminton and Squash.

  The football final, which was decided during the colourful final ceremony watched attended by Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, Sir Molade Okoya Thomas and other important dignitaries, saw Ojo and Surulere Sports City Football Club playing a 1-1 draw in the regulation only for the Ojo team to win the football gold in the penalty shootout that ended 3-1.

  Director of Sports, Lagos Sports Council, Dr. Kweku Adebayo Tandoh said that the Main Organising Committee, MOC, headed by the Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi, appreciated the supports received from Governor Fashola, the Ministry of Education, Corporate Nigeria, the media, the athletes, students, Principals, Games Masters, technical officers, Chairmen of all the participating local councils in the state and the spectators for the success and glamour of IBILE Games 2014.

  "As we close the IBILE Games, we invite you all to the South-West States Secondary Schools Games "DAWN Games" which holds in Lagos from 16-24 May, 2014," Tandoh said..

  No fewer than 180 secondary schools in the public and private took part in this year's IBILE Games with 39 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in attendance.

Sporting Associations List Gains Of Ibile Games

Chairman Lagos State Taekwondo Association (LSTA), Jimmy Okunnowo, has said that the ongoing Lagos State Sports Festival tagged IBILE Games will afford the state to get good athletes ahead of the forthcoming EKO Taekwondo Championship in July.   

According to him, the association will get at least 32 taekwondists at the end of the competition which ends on Saturday.    

Okunnowo, who sees the games as a positive measure towards paving the way for the growth of grassroots sports in the state, said the list of selected athletes would comprise of taekwondo athletes who won laurels as well as those who were eliminated at the preliminary rounds, stressing that the gesture was to give equal opportunities to the athletes especially those who were technically good but were unable to win laurels.   

He added that the invited taekwondo athletes would be exposed to the nitty- gritty of the game so as to be in good frame of mind ahead of the EKO Taekwondo Championship and subsequent tournaments.   

 

  According to him, athletes from other African countries such as Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Republic of Benin will compete with Nigerian taekwondo athletes at the tourney.   To the Nigeria’s international table tennis referee, John Peter, participating in IBILE Games  will give Lagos’ ping pongers a good opportunity to excel at the South-West Secondary school championship tagged DAWN Games 2014 which holds from May 16 to 24 in Lagos.  

   Peter, who is the referee of the table tennis event at the IBILE Games said that he was convinced that the state’s table tennis players would live up expectations at the DAWN Games because the Lagos State Government has made available necessary logistics to boost the players’ morale to win laurels.   

  He noted that the positive approach of the Lagos State Government towards the growth of grassroots sports would encourage the table tennis players to surpass the records set at the 18th National Sports Festival tagged EKO 2012 Games.   

  He said the Junior Category of IBILE Games is a good preparatory ground for the players to represent the state at the DAWN Games, and the country at the African Youth Games as well as the Olympic Youth Games.   

Ibile Games: ‘Volleyball Stars Will For Team Lagos For DAWN Games’

Lagos State Volleyball Association, LSVA, has assured that majority of secondary schools players featuring at the ongoing Lagos State Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games 2014 will be invited to camp ahead of the forthcoming DAWN Games scheduled to begin on May 16. 

 Technical Director, Suraj Olajide Olatuga told reporters on Monday that it has been a long time he has seen young volleyball players displaying tactical volleyball skills to the admiration of the association's technical team, adding that the performance of the players have shown that volleyball has improved following the players' second liner attack and floating service which are the most effective services in the sport.

 Olatuga noted that the initiative behind the Lagos State Adopt- A-Talent Sport Programme has yielded positive result in the building of future Volleyball players for Lagos.

According to him, Lagos will be a team to beat in the volleyball event at the DAWN Games, a competition for Secondary schools in the Southwest of the country.

  "We are having a total of 18 secondary schools of eleven boys schools and seven girls schools competing in the Volleyball event of Ibile Games.

  In some of the games played on Monday at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, International School Lagos (ISL) defeated New Era Girls’ High School, 2- 0, while Rockford Secondary School defeated Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja, 2- 0 in the girls’ category.

 United Christian Secondary School defeated Habibat Mogaji Secondary School, 2- 0 in the boys’ event.

 The game is played on round robin format as the participating schools were paired in two groups of five teams in the boys’ event, while their girls counterparts were drawn in two groups of four teams.  

 The best two teams will qualify for the semi final holding on Tuesday, while finals are fixed for Wednesday.

2014 Ibile Games Torch Tour Begins.

With the official receipt of the torch for the 2014 Lagos State Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games by the Conference 57, the torch tour kicks off with the visit to all the Local Government Areas, LGAs, and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs in the state. 

  Conference 57 is the umbrella body of all chairmen and chairpersons of Lagos' 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs, which is headed by Akeem Omoyele Sulaimon of Bariga LCDA. The Ibile Games will hold from April 30 to May 10, 2014.

  Receiving the Torch of Unity during the Joint Allocation Committee (JAC) meeting of the in Lagos at the weekend, Secretary of the Conference, Hakeem Adisa Bamgbola said that with the body receiving the Torch of Unity, it symbolised the beginning of the Games 2014 with the Tour of the torch.

  "I think IBILE Games 2014 just started with us receiving the Torch before it travels to all the local councils in the state," said Bamgbola, who is also the Executive Chairman of Itire Ikate LCDA. 

  "All the local councils are fully prepared because we have submitted our forms and I must say we are ready for the Games. I also want to reiterate that Conference 57 will no doubt support the organisers of the championship as we'll put heads together to see how we can put our weight behind a successful organisation of the competition this year," he said.

  According to the itinerary of the tour released by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the tournament, the torch tour will begin tomorrow with visit to Iru-Victoria Island, Lekki, Eti-Osa, Eti- Osa East, Ibeju Lekki and Ikoyi-Obalende.

  On Wednesday, it will be the turn of Coker-Aguda, Itire-Ikate, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye, Mushin, Onigbongbo, Shomolu, Bariga, Kosofe, Agboyi-Ketu and Ikosi-Isheri.

  On Thursday, the Torch will go to. Oshodi-Isolo, Isolo, Ejigbo, Igando- Ikotun, Egbe-Idmu, Agege, Alimosho, Ayobo-Ipaja, Agbado-Oke Odo, Ojokoro, Mosan-Okunola, Orile-Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye and Ojodu.

  Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo, Iba, Otto-Awori, Oriade, Ifelodun, Ajegunle, Apapa and Apapa-Iganmu will receive the Torch on Friday.

  On Monday April 28, the tour will visit Ikorodu Central, Igbogb-Baiyeku, Ikorodu West, Ikorodu North, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island East, Lagos Island, Ikeja and Surulere.

  The following day, it will be Epe, Eredo, Ikosi-Ejirin, Imota and Ijede, while the torch tour will be rounded off on Wednesday April 30, with the visit to Badagry, Badagry West and Olorunda.