Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deploying sports as a strategic tool for youth development, leadership grooming, and social cohesion.
The Governor made this known at the grand opening of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) South-South Basic Education School Sports (BESS) Competition hosted in Edo State.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, Governor Okpebholo said the state has fully embraced school sports as a development platform designed to nurture disciplined, confident, and future-ready young leaders.
“We are building future leaders in Edo State, future athletes and champions,” he said.
“Through sports, our children learn teamwork, discipline, resilience, and collective responsibility. These values prepare them not just for sports, but for life.”
The five-day competition brings together pupils from Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta States competing in football, chess, badminton, scrabble, ayo, and track-and-field events.
The Governor described the gathering as a celebration of youth potential and regional unity, noting that sports remain a powerful bridge for integration across the South-South.
Hon. Samuel Mariere, Dean of South-South SUBEB Chairmen and Chairman of Delta SUBEB, praised Edo State for hosting what he called a historic milestone, the first time the South-South geopolitical zone will jointly stage the UBEC/SUBEB BESS championship.
He commended Governor Okpebholo for creating the peaceful and supportive atmosphere necessary for the event.
“The South-South is the home of sports,” Mariere said. “And today, we thank the performing Governor for making this possible. This competition takes sports back to the grassroots, helping us catch them young and produce champions.”
The Executive Chairman of Edo SUBEB, Ebanieta Sonia Omonzane, described the competition as an affirmation of Edo’s leadership in grassroots sports and youth development. She noted that school sports remain a critical pillar of child development across the globe, shaping confidence, leadership, teamwork, and character.
“In the basic education system, sports balances academic learning with physical, mental, and social development,” she said.
“This event is more than a competition—it is a celebration of the collective strength and unity of the South-South. Edo stands proud as host because of our longstanding history in sports and our sustained investments in education and youth empowerment.”
She stated that Edo’s upgraded facilities, targeted sports programs, and quality coaching have positioned the state as a model for grassroots development, adding that hosting the zonal event reflects Edo’s commitment to nurturing talent and expanding opportunities for young people.
Over the coming days, participants will compete in diverse sporting activities that highlight the region’s strength and cultural diversity.
Officials expressed confidence that the competition will not only identify future national champions but will also instill enduring values that shape responsible citizens.
The ceremony underscored a shared belief across the region: that sports remain a powerful engine for leadership development, social stability, and the emergence of a new generation of champions from the South-South.
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