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Dominant Lagos, Ojo toast of athletics buffs as Maltina School Games ends

Joy Ojo of Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior High School was the toast of the athletics faithful at the maiden edition of Maltina School Games

Maltina School Games. Photo: TWITTER/MALTINA

Joy Ojo of Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior High School was the toast of the athletics faithful at the maiden edition of Maltina School Games, which came to an end at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old Ojo was declared the Overall Best Athlete of the National finals following her victories in the 100m, 200m, and 4x 100 meters race. She became the first winner of the major prize and earned for herself a scholarship to any Federal University of choice.

Aside from Ojo’s feat, Lagos State also emerged as the overall winner of the event with 21 gold, 15 silver, and five bronze medals, just as Federal Capital Territory (FCT) placed second with four gold, 13 silver, and 10 bronze medals. Kano State was third with four gold, and six bronze medals, while Anambra took the rear with three gold, four silver, and 11 bronze medals.

In other awards, Sikirat Anifowoshe won the Best Junior Girl award with gold medals in 100 m and 4 x 100 races, while Moses Okon of EUBA Junior Secondary School, Lagos won the Best Junior Boy athlete with gold medals in 400m and 4 x 100 relay.

Ojo also doubled as the Best Senior Girl with gold medals in the events that gave her the best overall winner, just as Onyebuchi Nnebedum of Christ Redeemer College, Anambra State won the Best Male Athlete with gold medals in Javelin and Shot put events.

Aside the sporting aspect of the day, all the athletes were treated to high-level entertainment as the rave of the moment, Mayoukun and Teni stimulated the crowd with some of their favourite lyrics, just as calisthenics display from school children rounded up a memorable afternoon for all the participants.

The whole programme was rounded up with a dinner party for all the athletes and officials where prizes were given out to deserved winners in all the tracks and field events competed for in the Three-day national finals.

The Maltina School Games is a new intervention in School Sports by Nigeria Breweries PLC.

It involves a series of track and field sporting competitions held pan-Nigeria, as an inter-school sports competition to grow future sports champions in secondary schools across Nigeria.

According to the organisers, the outstanding athletes from the Maltina School Games will get a chance to represent Nigeria at international competitions across the world, which could mark a big turnaround in becoming world-acclaimed stars in their respective fields.

Over 20 million children have been impacted in this maiden edition of the Maltina School Games, which many describe as a new chapter in sports development in Nigeria.

 

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