By Cornelius Ehimiaghe
Iyoba College Benin City, Edo State and Community Secondary Commercial School (CSCS) Ibiaku Itam in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, have emerged the winners of Mrs. Alice Imaria Ehimiaghe award.
Iyoba College won the award for using sports to build the character and learning experiences of their students.
Students of the College took part in netball, football, badminton, athletics and cricket, where they also recently won the Elizabeth Osato Edebiri, memorial cricket tournament for girls in Benin City, Edo State.
The school has however pledged to use the money to buy basic sports kits to be be used by their students in preparation for their forthcoming inter-house sports event and future secondary schools’ competitions.
On the other end, CSCS Ibiaku Itam in Uyo, got the award for using sports to engage and empower their more than 2000 students.
A cash prize of N150, 000 was given to the school management, meanwhile, both schools have a dedicated cricket ground with practice nets.
Iyoba College has a small cricket stand, while current construction work at the cricket spectator stand of CSCS is to be completed soon.
In addition, the two schools have benefitted immensely from the “catch them young” grassroots development programmes of the current Board of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), which has also used cricket to provide psycho-social support to residents of some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugee camps in Nigeria.
In a statement made available to the media over the weekend, Community Sport and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative said three members of the record making Nigerian U-19 female cricket team were recently hosted by the staff and students of their secondary schools in Uyo and Benin City.
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 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.
According to the statement, Deborah Bassey and Inyene Umoh were received by a rousing crowd of fellow students of CSCS Ibiaku Itam in Uyo.
Both students were received in a guard of honour that was mounted by players of the school cricket and netball teams. Inyene is also a member of the school netball team and she started playing cricket two years ago.
“Both students could not hide their delight for the Very Important Personality (V.I.P.) welcome they received from their fellow students and management of the school.
“The two cricketers were given a token of N20, 000 by the event organisers, CSED initiative.” the statement said.
The Principal of the school, Mrs. Mary Okon and Mr Ifiok Imin, praised the two students for being good ambassadors of the school that has in the past few years dominated different secondary school competitions in Akwa Ibom State.
The assistant coach of the Nigerian U-19 female cricket team, Blessing Etim, was also on the ground to graced the occasion, as according to her, the penetarion of netball and cricket will encourage more students of the school to either try to learn how to play cricket or try other sports like netball, rugby, football, athletics and American flag football that are played in the school.
While, at Iyoba College, the cricketer Adeshola Adekunle, was also warmly received at the assembly ground of the college.
Adekunle, was roundly commended by the school management for doing their school proud and bringing honour to Nigeria in Malaysia.
