Excitement as Emmanuel Agboola BGS holds interhouse sports

Excitement as Emmanuel Agboola BGS holds interhouse sports

Yinka ADETUNJI

Overall winner of the interhouse sports competition

Excitement filled the air Thursday at Emmanuel Agboola Baptist Grammar School, Kajola Area, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, as the school held its annual interhouse sports competition dubbed “Yajifarz Interhouse Sports 2026.”

Yajifarz Cargoes, a clearing and forwarding firm, owned by Alhaji Abdulmajeed Oladimeji Solademi, according to the principal of the school, Mr. Olufemi Ogunlana, was the principal partner in staging the event.

Some other partners are Aare Adekunle Tanwa (CEO of Tanwa Motors Ibadan and Aare Ameso Koso Iseyin), who adopted the Yellow House; Hon Olukayode Akande II (a former lawmaker who represented Ogbomoso South state constituency between 2015 and 2019), he adopted the Pink House; and a business tycoon and politician, Booda Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called “BSA” – he adopted the Blue House.

Some other partners are Hon Olufemi Onireti (a philanthropist and politician who has been supporting education); Mrs. Bosede Oladimeji (a retired principal and now US based); Dr Prince Oyedele Oyewo (an officer with the US Navy and a pharmacist); Engr. Lekan Laniyan (a Lagos-based business tycoon); and Professor Abel Ogunwale (Provost of LAUTECH Iseyin campus and who is SGB chairman of the school).

Dignitaries at the occasion included Alaaje of Aaje-Ologo HRM Oba Reuben Adesina Amao JP DSS rtd; Chief Pekun Amstrong Olaleye, Agbaakin of Okin-Apa and businessman; Alhaji Abdulganiyu Solademi a.k.a. Mento De Gas (who represented his son CEO of Yajifarz); Chief Hon Michael Abioye (a former Head of Zone TESCOM Ogbomoso and former General Secretary Ogbomoso Parapo Worldwide); Very Rev’d Onaolapo Ogundiji (clergyman and retired principal); Permanent Secretary/Inspector General of Education Ogbomoso zone1, Revd Dr Dele Oyedokun; Comrade Dayo Akala (a retired principal and former national officer of the Nigeria Union of Teachers); Mrs. Rachael Ajala (principal of Ogbomoso High School, and who is chairperson of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools ANCOPSS Ogbomoso zone II); as well as Mrs. Olutunji, Mr. Kehinde Adebiyi and Mr. Durosawo principals of Agboola Adibi Millennium High School, Government Technical College and Iwofin Community High School respectively. Parents and guardians led by the chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association, Mr. Olajide Kolawole, and other exco members were also well represented.

Some of the dignitaries present with the principal

Hon Akin Ogundele (representing Oriire state constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly) and Alhaja Omolabake Okelola were chairman and chairlady of the occasion respectively.

In his welcome address principal Mr. Olufemi Ogunlana noted that sports had become a big money-spinner asserting that discovering and nurturing potentials and talents should be supported.

“In this school, as we are committed to academic excellence so are we to sports development. Sport has become a profitable outlet for the young ones and is now a big money-spinner. There are always potentials but what makes the difference is discovering and nurturing those potentials. That is our focus in this school presently.”

Dr Oyewo in his goodwill message delivered by his representative Prince Oladimeji Areo told the students, “I would like to emphasize that learning extends far beyond the classroom. Sporting activities and extracurricular pursuits play a vital role in shaping well-rounded individuals. Through sports, one develops essential qualities such as confidence, courage, determination, and discipline – all of which are crucial for success in life. It is not about winning or losing, but about participating and giving your best.’

Dr Oyedokun, represented by Mr Adeniran Sangoniyi (assistant LIE Ogbomoso South local government), described the event as “a celebration of talent, teamwork and sportsmanship,” while encouraging fair play and mutual respect among the competitors.

Chief Amstrong, who is the chief promoter of Ori Africa, a cultural renaissance movement, urged the audience to “rediscover the beauty of African culture and traditions in dressing, greetings mode, language etc in order to reset the continent in the path of revival.”

Alhaji Solademi similarly expressed excitement at the event assuring Yajifarz will continually support sports development.

Alaaje Ologo commended the principal for making his mark in the school observing “wherever one finds himself or herself one should endeavour to make improvements irrespective of whether what one met on ground is good or not. Wherever you are you must make yourself relevant.”

The monarch who served as the royal father of the day implored the students to have role models they would emulate saying it would aid their development.

The event also featured conferment of awards on certain personalities whom had contributed to the development of the school and education generally. They included the partners in the interhouse sports competition (Yajifarz, Aare Tanwa, Hon Akande II and BSA), Chief Michael Abioye (a former Director and HOZ TESCOM Ogbomoso), Comrade Dayo Ajala (who served as Acting Principal in the school), Dr Oyewo, Engr Lekan Laniyan, and the PTA chairman in the school, Pa Kolawole.

The March Past session was enthralling as the contingent of each house rolled out with tailored slow marching order before transitioning into quick march, led by a general commandant. “We loved this March Past,” a parent, Mr. Kehinde Adelakun, commended.

The March Past outcome meanwhile shows BSA House garnered 66 points to take the lead, followed by Akande ll House, Aare Tanwa House and Yajifarz House with 65, 64 and 63 points respectively. “The close scores reflects it was keenly contested,” the commentator, Mr. David Adetoye, enthusiastically declared.

Overall, BSA maintains the lead as it took first position with 164 points. Yajifarz came a close second with 163 points while Aare Tanwa House notched third position with 147 points and Akande II House amassed 132 points to bring up the rear.

But like Dr. Oyewo noted, “the spirit is not to win but to participate.”

Ogbomoso High School boys relay team came first in the invitation relay. Baptist Grammar School Susnsun and The Apostolic Church Grammar School came second and third positions respectively.

In the female category The Apostolic Church Grammar School emerged winners while Baptist Secondary Grammar School Ahoyaya took the second position leaving Samshudeen Grammar School in third position.