By: Chinedum Ohanusi 

Parents and Heads of Schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been urged to continue encouraging their wards and students to engage in sporting activities, in order to maintain physical fitness, and sharpen their mental alertness.

Coordinator of the Tunga Maje Center of the ongoing 2025 Barr. Nyesom Wike FCT School Sports Festival, Dr. Rachel Ameh made the call on the sidelines of the preliminary stage of games and court events, held at GSSS Tungan Maje.

Dr. Rachel told correspondent Friday Joshua that she believes participating in sports activities, also plays a big role in helping the child discover his or her talent, whilst building up their psychological wellbeing.

She further advised heads of schools in the FCT to ensure their students take sports and academics seriously for a diversified career path, as not all of them will end up as engineers, doctors, or even teachers.

GSS Gwagwa amassed a total of 7 points in Senior Boys football event to pick the ticket to the grand finale, after the preliminary stage,  took a round robin format.

GSS Gwagwa finished in first position with a total of 7 points, scoring 5 goals in the process. The host school, GSSS Tungan Maje came second with 4 points and had 4 goals, whilst GSS Zuba placed 3rd - tied on 3 points with 4th placed GSS Anagada; which had an inferior goal difference.

In the Senior Girls category, GSSS Tungan Maje defeated GSS Anagada 5-4 on penalties to claim the ticket to the FCT finals; whilst JSS Tungan Maje defeated JSS Giri 2-1 to progress to the finals in the Junior boys football event.

Meanwhile, JSS Tungan Maje was awarded 3 points and 3 goals after walking over their opponent, in the Junior Girls category just as LEA Primary School, Piwoyi advanced to the grand finale via walkover in the primary category.

In Handball, GSSS Tunga Maje picked the ticket to the grand finale in the boy the Senior Boys and Girls.The Boys from Tunga Maje trashed GSS Anagada 5-0 while the Girls won 5-2 against GSS Anagada.

Track and Field events of the 2025 Barrister Nyesom Wike FCT School Sports fiesta got underway this Monday, and in some style at GSS Tundun Wada, Zone 4 Center.

Our reporter there, Olukayode Babatunde spoke with the Principal of the School, Mrs. Akerele Irene Mojisola who pledged her support for the competition, and promised to help in ensuring that activities at the Center goes without recording a single hitch.

According to Mrs. Akerele, the school as hosts, have been receptive of the officials, and sister schools, and will continue to cooperate with them for the entire duration, so as to make the games a big success.

The Principal, who is barely four months old at the school, further expressed confidence that athletes from her school will excel in athletics events of the games, while efforts will be made to secure a football Coach, with a view to raising strong football teams (Boys and Girls) for the school.

In some of the athletics events that took place at the center on Monday,  LEA Wuse Zone 5 Girls led the 100m race, LEA while Kpadna finished second and Festival Road Garki took third.

In the primary school Boys 100m race, LEA Jiwa finished first, and were followed by LEA Kpadna while LEA Wuse Zone 3 took the 3rd position.

In Junior Secondary School Girls 100m Race, JSS Jabi2 finished first, JSS Tundun Wada took second position and JSS Jabi1 finished in 3rd.

JSS Jabi1 Boys did not look back, as they won the Junior Boys 100m race, followed by ADSSS Abacha Barrack and JSS Apo Resettlement finished third.

And from the Kubwa/Dutse centre, Emmanuel Chidiaka reports of top-performing athletes, teams and schools who secured their spots in the next round.

*The Qualified Athletes/Schools:*

Senior Girls Javelin:
Nasiru Munirat of GSS Kubwa and Mnguve Salome of GDSS, Dutse. 

Senior Boys Javelin : Success Ngbede of GSS Dei-Dei and Idris Suleiman of GDSS Bwari. 

Junior Girls 800m: Gbobi Queen of JSS Kubwa and Adekpe Enongha of JSS Duste Alhaji. 

Junior Boys 800m: Zachariah Jeremiah of JSS Baupma and Abdulrahman Momojuna of JSS Duste Alhaji. 

Senior Boys & Girls 800m: 
Both finals are on the schedule for today, after the Heats were concluded yesterday.

Junior Girls 200m: Baraka Salaudeen of JSS Duste Alhaji and Alabuche Mmesoma of JSS Kubwa 1. 

Junior Boys 200m: Jemilu Suleiman of JSS Kubwa 1 and Bello Toyin of Total Child Academy, Kubwa. 

Senior Girls 200m: There was a tie yesterday, so the final will be re-run today.
 
Senior Boys 200m: The final is scheduled for today. 

1500m Junior Girls: Teams from JSS Kubwa, and JSS Baupma. 

1500m Junior Boys:
Teams from JSS Baupma and JSS Kubwa. 

1500m Senior Girls: Rejoice Bulus of GSS Kubwa 1 and Ochigbo Elizabeth of GDSS Dutse. 

1500m Senior Boys: Adamu Sani of GSS Kubwa 1 and Yusuf Samaila of GSS Jibi.