No fewer than 1,671 contingents has qualified to the stage competition of Ebonyi State school sport games as it enters zonal stage.
Commissioner for Education Dr Onyebuchi Chima, disclosed in Abakaliki while briefing journalists in Abakaliki.
According to the commissioner, sports and education remains a panecea for national development and cannot be over emphasized.
Chima explained that the school Sports was aimed at engaging the youths and bridge the gap in the efforts to overcome criminality in the state and the country at large.
The event tagged, “Governor David Umahi School Sports Competition” was flagged-off on May across the thirteen Council Areas of the state.
He, however, advised aggrieved youths threatening the security of the state to eschew from every activities capable of truncating peaceful learning as no ministry would give our children better future other than education.
He commended the conclusion of the local government areas stage, and said the state government was committed to youth development.
His words: Sports and education goes together, the competition aimed at redirecting minds of the youth and develop the hidden talents among them for the future purposes.
“On security, let me assure you that, all hands are on deck to guide and protect the school children during and after the competition; both teachers, government, parents and other experts, who are responsible in taking care of children have roles to play.
“On school resumption on Monday 24, we are assuring the parents that schools are safe for learning,” the Commissioner explained.
However in his part, the Commissioner for Sports Hon. Charles Akpuenika, said the essence of the competition was to fish out sporting talents in the state.
He noted that the zonal elimination, scheduled to commenced from Monday 24 to Wednesday 26, would include: Ebonyi North, Central and South.
Some of the events are: football, adminton, athletics, such as 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,500 metres, volleyball, taekwando, table and long tennis, sack race, badminton, high and long jump.
He said:”Seeing that we have entered 2nd stage of this great competition,it will interest you to know the number of participants from various council areas and zones which is: Abakaliki:170 contingents,Izzi LGA:128 contingents; Ebonyi:157 contingents and Ohaukwu:170 contingents, making them 525 in total and are to be using Holy Ghost Modern Secondary School, Abakaliki.
“Ebonyi Central is 483: Ezza North:114 contingents,Ezza South:106, Ishielu:133 contingents,Ikwo:130 contingents.
Also,”Afikpo North: 162 contingents,Ivo:130,Afikpo South:130 contingents;Onicha:109 contingents and Ohaozara:142 contingents making them 663 contingents who will participate in the competition in the total of 1,671.
On medical during the sports competition, Dr Richard Nnabu, Senior Special Adviser to Governor Umahi on Medical Services said the health personnel were readily available to assist during the events.
He added that medical personnel including ambulances have been made available to ensure proper response to such incident at any time during the exercise.
