By Chigozie Chukwuleta 

The Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, has begun the distribution of sports kits and equipment to students in the basic education sector.

The distribution event which took place at the ASUBEB headquarters, Awka witnessed a display of various sporting equipment including Scrabble, Basketball, Table tennis, Football kits Javelin, athletic equipment, Skipping rope, Volleyball items, High jump effects, Badminton set, Tug of war rope, and shot-put, among others.

The Chairman at the event, Hon. Anayo Okpaleke commended all those who were instrumental to the procurement of sports equipment, including the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, the Anambra State Governor and ASUBEB for making the event possible.

Hon. Okpaleke who is the House Committee Chairman on Education noted that sports is crucial to team work, health, physical, and mental development of the learners and community at large, describing the sports equipment as an investment that can foster the experience of competition, discipline and unity.

In a remark, the Commissioner for education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh stated that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR is passionate about the education of Anambra children, and the procurement and distribution of sports equipment to the schools was a testament of his resolve in training a balanced child in the three domains of learning, which are cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains, calling on teachers to guide the learners to pursue their talents in sports.

Earlier in her keynote address, the Executive Chairman, ASUBEB,  Dr. Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi stated that the procurement of the sports kits and equipment was made possible by the payment of the 2019/2020 Universal Basic Education, UBE Matching Grant for Anambra State by Governor Charles Soludo.

Dr. Nwadinobi noted that the payment of the counterpart fund by the Governor was in fulfilment of his commitment to the development of sports in the public schools.

"Sports has become a preferred career path for many young people, hence the availability of adequate sports equipment and facilities in public schools would stimulate participation of young learners in sporting activities", she opined.

Continuing, the ASUBEB boss explained that the Board has outlined a comprehensive sporting calendar that will compel all state schools to engage in serious sporting activities within the current academic year, noting that sports is part of the academic calendar all over the world.

In their separate speeches, the Director, Academic Services, ASUBEB, Mrs Anthonia Chukwuma and the Sports Desk Officer, ASUBEB, Mrs  Ifeoma Okoye appreciated UBEC for partnering the State Universal Basic Education Boards, SUBEB throughout the Federation to develop sports activities in the schools.

Highpoints of the event were the distribution of sports equipment, and cultural dances by the pupils.