The Unity Schools Old Students Association USOSA has brought to bare the importance of sports as a driver in nation building and peaceful coexistence amongst Nigerians.
The former students who came from diverse ethnic backgrounds took part in various games at the maiden USOSA Sports Carnival which held on Saturday 6 May 2023 at the TBS cricket Oval in Lagos.
At the end of the one day fiesta, Federal Government College Idiani, Ondo State and Federal Government College Ogbomoso, Oyo State emerged overall men’s and women’s champions of the competition.
Aside from scooping the overall title, both schools emerged winners in the football event, which was grand finale.
FGC Idoani won the 5-Aside men, while FGC Ogbomoso went away with women’s gold medal.
About 1,500 old students from 30 of the 115 Unity School braved the heavy downpour of rain earlier in the day to participate in the one-day Sports fiesta which also had a business exhibition.
Excited about the turnout of participants, the President General of USOSA Mr Micheal Magaji praised the spirit of camaraderie and oneness exhibited by the competitors:
“This is bigger than Annual General Meeting we’ve had, bigger than any plenary session we’ve ever had.
“Through this we hope we can unite our members, we can unite Nigeria and teach them how we can all live in diversity and excel.
Due to the elevated interest and passion showed by participants Mr Magaji was compelled to toggle with the idea of making the competition an annual event with the goal of talent production:
“As the executive committee we will continue to promote this with the support of our our board of trustees, with our able chairman and it will become a yearly event where we can find talents, not only find talents, but also come together, make Nigerians understand what diversity really means and put into action.”
The USOSA Sports Carnival saw the old students compete for honours in 9 field, indoor and board games while four members received honorary awards for their contribution to humanity.
President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata, Francis Orbih the President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria, former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation Musa Amadu and Ahmadu Musa Kida the President of Nigeria Basketball Federation we’re all conferred with special honours.
The Badminton Federation supremo , Mr Orbih who is also an old student of Federal Government College Ogbomosho said the the choice of sports for the fiesta was ideal:
“Sports you know is a unifying factor, so everybody has come together, it’s like a family.
I think it’s a very good concept, we must commend the organisers for this.”
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