Mrs. Adefisayo disclosed this at the official prize presentation by the Nigeria Breweries, makers of Maltina, to the students of Ijaiye Housing Junior and Senior Secondary School as well as Euba Junior Secondary School, who won different events at the recently concluded competition, just as the Lagos State Team also emerged overall Best State with 21 Gold, 15 Silver and Five Bronze Medals.
The Commissioner, represented at the event by the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Education District I, Mrs. Titilayo Solarin, appreciated the initiative of the Nigeria Breweries for the bountiful incentives and reward to the students who have distinguished themselves and made the State proud.
She said the Lagos State Government has evolved a system to identify brilliant students with hidden talents in order to nurture them with necessary support and guidance, so as to help unleash their potentials at National and International Competitions.
In her words: “Lagos State students are gifted and as a State, we have continued to create various means of harnessing, exposing and showcasing these brilliant minds to the world”.
She, however, solicited for more collaboration and support for the State government from corporate organisations and private stakeholders in actualising the major goals and objectives of the current administration in the education sector.
Presenting the cash gifts to the respective recipients, the Portfolio Manager, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, NB Plc, Mrs. Kehinde Kadiri, noted that she is inspired by the bunch of talents in Lagos State Schools and urged the winners to continue to strive to be the best always.
She lauded the State Government’s proactive response to the competition in all ramifications, commending the judges and participants of the maiden edition of the Maltina School Games.
In the Senior Category, Ojo Joy of Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior Secondary School, who won the first position in 100, 200 and 4x100 Metres, received a cash prize of N500,000 and an additional N1,000,0000 for emerging as overall best athlete, while in the Junior Boys Category, Okon Moses of Euba Junior Secondary School, Mushin got a cash prize of N500,000 for winning gold medals in 400, 4x100 and silver medal in 100 metres.
For the Junior Girls Category, Anifowoshe Sikirat of Ijaiye Housing Estate Junior High School won N500,000 for clinching the gold medals in 100m and 4x100m. Also a cheque of N5,000,000 was presented to Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior Secondary School under Education District I for emerging as Overall Best School in the competition.
Dignitaries at the award presentation include the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District VI, Mrs. Okelola Oludara; President, Nigeria School Sports Federation, Mrs. Olabisi Joseph; representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Babatunde Omibekun and representative of the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mrs. Oluyomi Oluwasanmi among others.
