Otukpo (Benue) – Ibrahim Muhammed, the President of the National Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), has lauded the performance of the Anambra contingent in winning the first gold medal at the ongoing “Otukpo 2014’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that `Otukpo 2014’’ is the seventh edition of the National Schools Sports Festival and it officially got underway on Saturday in Otukpo, Benue.
Anambra came first in the march-past, while Niger and Jigawa states were second and third to win silver and bronze medals respectively.
This result puts Anambra on top of the medals table after the first day of the festival.
“The judgment was based on timeliness, good kitting, cleanliness and precision in marching,’’ Muhammed said.
The NSSF president said the state had shown commitment and consistency towards the encouragement of grassroots sports.
“Anambra have been doing well at the festival and I congratulate them and other winners,’’ he said.
He said the competition, the first to be held in a local government, would hold in secondary schools around Otukpo, based on the request of the Senate President, David Mark.
NAN reports that as at Saturday afternoon, athletes from host Benue and 25 other states had not reported for the festival, even with the commencement of festival-related activities since Thursday.
Contingents which participated in the opening ceremony are those of Adamawa, Anambra, Niger, Jigawa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Plateau, Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina and Kano states.(NAN).