..AS RHINOCEROS HOUSE CLINCHES OVERALL BEST IN CDSS INTER-HOUSE SPORTS
By Okosun Dennis
It was the best of athleticism and aesthetic cultural display by students of Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo Cantonment on Thursday as it organised its 23rd Inter-House Sports competition at the school’s Sports Ground.
With excellent sporting prowess by the young lads, the highly contested relay races and 100 metres dash by both male and female students held spectators spellbound as they cheered them to victory.
In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Maj Gen Umaru Musa, who was the Special Guest of Honour noted that the school has carved a niche for itself as it doesn’t restrict students to the classroom alone for academic activities but also engage them in sporting activities to make them fit.
“We ensure that students don’t remain in the classrooms but exercise their bodies on a daily and weekly basis to make them fit and physically sound.”
Represented by Brig Gen Abdulmumni Ahmed, Director, Education Services, 81 Division, expressed satisfaction with the quality of competition exhibited by the students of the school.
Observing, now that we are gradually getting out of Covid-19, would give us the opportunity to engage the students more in sporting activities. While calling on the winners to celebrate victory and ensure they sustain the tempo for more laurels in future competitions, he admonished those that lost not to relent but strive harder for future competitions.
The Chairman of the occasion, Maj Gen MO Enendu, Commandant, Nigerian Army College of Logistics (NACOL), who was also represented by Col AB Edet appreciated the students for their display adding that the expectation is that among the participants, the school would athlete that could represent the country in future Olympics games.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commandant, Command Day Secondary School, (CDSS), Ojo, Major Uwaifo Ikpekhia said sports was a unifying factor and a source of entertainment, and by extension, serves as the agent of wealth creation.
He added that many household names are known nowadays all over the world because they were/are involved in one sport or the other hence he called on the students to embrace sports with a view to bringing accolades and glory to their families and the country.
“Many household names all over the world today are made popular by sports. These included the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Mikel Obi etc.
“Therefore, as parents, our focus should not only be on academics but should not hold back our wards from developing their talents and participating in sports.
“Our goal in this school is to produce students that are sound in both academics, in character and physically fit to cope with all challenges.
“May I specifically recognize my Principal staff officers, teaching and non-teaching staff whose determination and sacrifices made the event see the light of day in spite of their busy academic schedule in the school.
“I want to indeed commend their effort for building on the excellent academic and extra-curricular culture of CDSS Ojo,” Major Ikpekhia reiterated.
The participating houses included Stallion, Tiger, Rhinoceros, Dragon and Hippopotamus Houses. At the end of the events which, it was learnt, began with other events concluded earlier, Rhinoceros House clinched the overall best trophy with Eight Gold, Nine Silver and 11 Bronze medals while Tiger emerged as the runner-up with Eight Gold, Eight silver and one bronze medal.
Hippopotamus coasted home with the third position while Stallion and Dragon settled for the fourth, best in match past and fifth positions respectively.
In the Invitation Relay, CDSS Ikeja, CDSS Oshodi and CCS Lagos came first, second and third for females while in the Male category, victory went to CDSS Ipaja, Oshodi and Ikeja respectively.
The event began with a match pass by all the participating houses. There was also a cultural dance display by Atilogo and other cultural dances.
Other side attractions were the 100 metres race by parents both male and female; the Commandant, Principal staff officers and the Vice Principal, Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), children of parents and Ex-Commandos of the school.
In her vote of thanks, the Chairperson Organising Committee and Vice-Principal Administration, Mrs LM Onoabhagbe, thanked all and sundry that came from far and near to grace the occasion.
Other guests that graced the occasion included the Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corps (NAEC), Maj Gen Mohammed Augie, who was represented by Col Henry Nnoli, Deputy Chief of Staff, NAEC; both Father and Mother of the Day, Chief Joseph Okoro and Mrs CC Oloyede respectively.
CDSS was established in 1981 and has maintained academic discipline graduating thousands of students since its inception. Today’s inter-house competition is the school’s 23rd edition since its establishment of the school.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/we-groom-students-to-be-academically-physically-fit-says-81-division-goc/
About The Author
