Over 6,000 students from about 200 public and private schools from all the local government of Lagos State are expected to participate at the maiden edition of Heritage Bank Skoolimpics.
At a press conference at the Molade Okoya Thomas Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday to herald the event, the Executive Director, Lagos and South-west/Corporate Banking of Heritage Bank, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, said the bank was spearheading the noble project in the state because Lagos State has been known to be successful in driving sports initiatives.
In his address, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Sports, Deji Tinubu, said the state is excited at the project because it will help to develop youths in the state in a disciplined manner.
“One of the teachings of the t state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode is to take the kids away from various kinds of social ills that every kid should participate in at least one sport. We want to go back to the old days when secondary students were already sporting heroes even while still in school.
“The future stars are the ones in secondary schools now and if we don’t tap their talent now we would be losing a generation of sporting heroes,” Tinubu noted.
Brand Ambassador of Heritage Bank Skoolympics, Mary Onyali, appealed to stakeholders to make the event a continuous project, saying it would be of immense benefit to Nigerian children.
The completion will take place in two venues- the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere and Rowe Park Sport in Yaba, between November 2 to 4.
Five sports, which include basketball, athletics, handball, table tennis and swimming, will feature at the event.
