By Eric Ojo
Community Sport and Educational Development (CSED) initiative has expressed its intention to work closely with the relevant authorities to introduce netball to secondary schools in the Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State,
This is coming after this the remarkable progress that netballers from the University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka, have made within a short period of time.
CSED initiative is a sport for change Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with a mission to use Nigerian children and youth participating in sports related activities to promote literacy and their social well-being.
Its primary goal, the promoter added, is to develop well balanced future sports men and women.
The NGO also aims at using sports to empower young persons to fulfil their potentials and achieve their dream of earning a living, while representing Nigeria in international sporting competitions
The organization has been at the frontline in promoting the game of netball in Nigeria, over the years. In the light of this, it supported the supported the introduction of netball to the University of Nigeria Secondary School as a pilot project.
In a statement made available to the media over the weekend, the NGO expressed it satisfaction with the performance of student netballers from the school who participated in their school’s 17th biennial inter-house sports event.
CSED Initiative also gave a hint on the possibility of rolling out its Sporting Coders programme in the school so that the students can equally benefit from it as well.
“The Trustees of CSED Initiative must also have to explore the opportunity of introducing their “Sporting Coders” programme to the University Secondary School Nsukka in 2025”, the statement said.
Six houses competed in events in different sports, which started on 6th November 2024. The grand final was held on 11th December, at the premises of the forty-one years old school.
For the first time in the history of the school, the game of netball was introduced by the school management that is led by Uche Adama. About seventy female students competed in the netball event which was the star attraction of this inter-house sports competition.
As it provided the young students with the opportunities to exhibit the knowledge and skills that they have learnt from Oluchi Ngwoke and their other Physical Education (P.E.) teachers.
Red and Green houses played in the final netball match which was won by Green house. Pink house beat Yellow house to claim the third position. Adaeze Chigbochieaha of Pink house was the best goal scorer of the netball event. Charles-Nnadi Chibundo of Yellow house beat Eze Miracle of Green house to emerge the most valuable player of the netball competition.
Notably, playing netball has generated a lot of excitement among the female students of the school, who have been thrilled at what they could do during the competition. The students learned so fast the rules and skills that are needed to excel in the game of netball.
The Chairman of the school Board of Governors, Prof. F.A. Okwo commended the staff and students of the school for their efforts in hosting a successful inter-house competition, stressing on the important role sports play in the general well-being and health of students.
