In a bid to discover talents at the early stage and nurture them to greatness, the Ondo State government has concluded arrangements to resuscitate the moribund Basic Education School Sports (BESS).
BESS is a sports competition involving the public primary schools in the eighteen council areas of Ondo State.
Ever since Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) gave approval for the primary school games, in 2023 all the local government areas of the state had sprung into action to scout for budding talents in Track and Field, Table Tennis, Football, Scrabble and Chess.
Consequently, four of the five zones – Ondo, Okitipupa, Owo and Akoko – had concluded their zonal competitions with Akure waiting to hold its own on Monday, June 26, 2023.
All public primary schools in Akure North, Akure South, Idanre and Ifedore are expected in Akure for the final leg of the zonal preliminaries that day.
According to the SUBEB Desk Officer for sports in Ondo State, Mrs Folake Olagundoye, the state final will hold in Akure on the 5th of July at St Thomas Aquinas College.
“All the qualifiers from the zones are expected in Akure to compete in five sports, Athletics, Table Tennis, Football, Scrabble and Chess. The essence of which is to fish out the best talents in Ondo State, nurture them and prepare them for the South-West championship coming up, in Ibadan and subsequently at the national level, later in the year.”
Mrs Olagundoye said the board of SUBEB in Ondo State led by Rt Hon Victor Olabintan has never hidden its interest in primary school sports since it assumed office, in January 2022.
“It is the believe of Rt Hon Olabintan that those that will represent Nigeria tomorrow must be discovered from the primary school just as it is done in Europe, USA, China and others.”