The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), has flagged off the Year 2025 edition of the South-West Basic Education Schools Sports (BESS) Competition. The announcement was made at a press conference held on Monday at the Head Office of LASUBEB in Maryland, Lagos.
In his address, the Executive Chairman of LASUBEB, Dr. Hakeem Babatunde Shittu, described the BESS competition as a joint initiative of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), and the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF).
“We are honoured to host athletes and officials from the six states of the South-West geo-political zone: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo,” Dr. Shittu stated. “Over 370 pupils will participate in track and field events, football, and board games. This competition goes beyond sports; it is a platform for nurturing young talent, promoting sportsmanship, encouraging healthy rivalry, and instilling discipline and teamwork among pupils across the region.”
Dr. Shittu emphasised that the competition includes public schools in the zone, adding that the Universal Basic Education Commission is presently working on incorporating private schools in the competition. He assured that LASUBEB has provided adequate accommodation and security to ensure a safe and conducive environment for all participants.
Acknowledging the strong collaboration between UBEC, State SUBEBs, and NSSF, he described the partnership as a unified effort toward developing well-rounded learners. He further noted that Lagos is proud to host this prestigious competition for the second time. “We are building on the foundation laid in previous editions, showcasing once again the excellence of our pupils in sports an area in which Lagos has consistently excelled at local, national, and international levels.”
The Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, highlighted the critical role of sports in the total development of children.
“As we celebrate the talents of our pupils, we must also recognise the significant impact of sports in shaping their mental, physical, emotional, and social well-being,” he said.
He disclosed that the State Government has taken deliberate steps to integrate sports into formal education, adding that physical and health education has been incorporated as a core subject in the school curriculum. He mentioned that the intentional policy ensures that sporting activities are no longer treated as extracurricular, but rather as an integral component of the education system in Lagos.”
The Commissioner encouraged participants to see the BESS competition as more than a contest, but as a platform to uphold values such as teamwork, discipline, fairness, and excellence. “I urge our pupils to learn, grow, and demonstrate true sportsmanship throughout this competition.”
Both the Honourable Commissioner and the LASUBEB Chairman expressed appreciation to Sports Desk Officers, UBEC officials, and other education stakeholders across the South-West zone for their unwavering commitment to grassroots sports development.
The week-long competition commences with football and board game preliminaries at CMS Grammar School, Bariga, on Tuesday, 17th and Wednesday, 18th June. Track and field events will take place at Agege Stadium on Wednesday, 18th June, while the grand finale featuring the football final will be held at Yaba College of Technology Sports Ground on Thursday, 19th June, 2025.
