By: Chinedum Ohanusi 

Action in the inaugural edition of the Nigeria Basic Education Schools Sports Festival (BESS 2024), being hosted by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), enters Day-4 today with events in all eight disciplines, at the three designated centers.

Contingents from about twenty-five states of the federation, who qualified as zonal champions, are taking part in the national finals, which got underway on Friday, with an elaborate opening ceremony, at the Old Parade Ground, in Area 10, Garki, Abuja.

The highlight of the opening ceremony, was a march past by athletes and officials of the various states, dressed in beautiful colours; and the opening football match (Boys), which saw  Nasarawa State trounce Team FCT 4-0.

In games that followed on Saturday, Ekiti State drew goalless with Bayelsa State; Kaduna State thrashed Plateau State 3-1; while Taraba and Osun States settled for another barren draw. 

Meanwhile, Zamfara State fell 1-2 to Gombe State; Team FCT was again thrashed 3-0 by their peers from Ekiti State; and Kaduna won their second straight game by defeating Delta State 2-1.

Nasarawa State were handed a 0-1 loss by Taraba State; while Plateau and Gombe State played out a thrilling 1-1 draw, to share the points.

Volleyball began on Saturday, and the Team FCT Boys were quick to down Kaduna State by 2 sets to 1; at the GSS Garki Centre.

In the only other match for Boys that followed, Bauchi lost 0-2 to North-East rivals Yobe State. 

In Girls Volleyball, Team FCT slumped to a 0-2 defeat, in the hands of Kaduna State; who went on to beat Borno State 2-0 for the second win in as many games, on the same day. 

According to the Head of the Protocol Committee Madaki Bitrus Yamai, prior to Friday, the athletes who are accommodated in secure facilities in the City Center, were screened thoroughly, to ensure they are 15 years and under, before they were allowed to register for their various events; for the fiesta that will last for eleven days.

Aside from football for both Boys and Girls, nine other sports - including Athletics, Table Tennis, Handball, Volleyball, Ayoo, and Scrabble are featuring as Medal winning sports.