By Ovat Abeng
The Anambra Government has flagged off it 2025 schools sports competition across public, private and mission schools in the state.
The flags-off ceremony took place at the Anambra State Sports Development Commission’s conference hall in Awka, on Wednesday.
The competition is tagged; “2025 Anambra Sports Solution Initiative (ANSSI).
In his address shortly after the unveiling, the Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Mr Patrick Estate Onyedum, said the competition would kick off on the 19th March, and ends on 27th June, 2025.
Read Also: C’River: NCWS advocates improved socioeconomic conditions for women
According to Onyedum, the competition which is the third edition, is part of the manifesto of His Excellency, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo to develop sports from the grassroots.
He said as a product of school sports, I saw it as the opportunity to actualize Mr. Governors vision, hence the birth of ANSSI.
“ANSSI is sports competition involving primary and post primary schools including public, federal, private and mission at various age categories (U-12, U-14, U-18).
“I make bold to say that within two years of ANSSI, the State is now the cynosure of all eyes as our athletes have performed creditably in national and international competitions
“Our ANSSI products are scartared all over world including United States of America, Europe and Asia. In Nigeria here, two of them are enjoying full scholarship from a sports academy in Abuja.
“Our records at the National Youth Games has continued to improve. As at the time ANSSI came on board, the madal haul of the State was not more 5 gold medals. But as we are sitting here now, we have moved from 7 to 9 gold medals in the last NYG in Asaba. To this end and to maintain the tempo, we have donated sports equipments ( tennis boards, basketball courts, etc to some schools to encourage them.
“Let me also inform you like I mentioned earlier, many States are now copying the ANSSI model of going back to schools to bring back the glory days of sports in Nigeria.
I call on all the participants (Officials and athlete) to adher strictly to the rules of the competition.
This 3rd edition which would commence on the 19th of March, 2025 across the 21 LGA and 3 Senatorial zones in the state promises to be an improvement on the last edition.
The Chairman commended it collaborators, the State Ministry of Education, the management of private and mission schools in the state, members of the press especially SWAN members for their continued support.
In their separate remarks, the State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, representative of Healthy living with Nonye Soludo, Mr Jide Obu, Chairman of Anoacha local government area, Comrade Romanus Ibekwe, the State Chairman of SWAN, Chimezie Anaso and the representative of Anambra State Association of Town Union ASATU, Engr. Chidi Obiodu, described the initiative as a thing of joy,
They assured the Commission of their full participation during the competition.
It was also gathered that over fifteen thousand people are expected to participate in the school games.
