The principal of Aquinas College Akure, Mr. Babasola Ayibiowu has described Sports as a means of providing job opportunities for the youths.

Ayibiowu, who stated this at the (ACA) 68th Inter-House Sports Competition held at the college sports ground, added that Sports can also help to generate revenue for individuals and the government in hard currency if well managed.

“The vision statement must be stated clearly, we are looking for future talents and we must catch them young.”

He added that Sports allow for healthy living and a healthy mind in a sound body.

The school principal enumerated the importance of Sports; thus “it helps to keep body and soul together by reducing tension and remove some traces of diseases completely. It remains a unifying factor in our society as it cuts across all tribes, races, ages countries and even the continent,” he emphasised.

According to him, “Aquinas College is a renowned institution in the field of sports has produced a lot of sportsmen locally and internationally, education is not about being literate alone, there are other talents, skills that God has deposited in the youths”.

“So what we are doing here is to bring out these talents from them, nurture them, develop it and make them future champions and professionals in their various fields”.

The School’s Sportmaster, Mr. Fapohunda Clement said, the future of these exceptional boys is very bright if they can keep on with the spirit.

He appealed to the parents of the discovered athletes that they should support their kids by releasing them for training. With the support of our principal, we are ready to nurture the performing boys to the stardom.

We have all that it takes in the college to develop them in line with their respective sports, we must thank the state government and Sports council for given us a coach to train the athletes in the school.

Meanwhile, Saint Thomas (White House) emerged as the overall winner of the inter-house sports competition with 221 points, Saint Eugene (Red House) won the second position with 219 points while Saint John (Green House) Saint Williams (Purple House), Saint Michael (Yellow Hous) Saint Francis Blue House came 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th position with 142, 139, 133 and 131 points respectively.

While Master, Segun Owoeye, who was awarded the best athlete of the competition with a giant trophy, thanked his coach, colleagues, saying without their support he won’t be able to attain this feat. “Your continued support will spur me to do better in the future,” he stated.

Different prizes were later presented to all the winners.

  – Originally published in The Hope Newspaper on March 29, 2019.