Govt to involve physically challenged students in sports

Prof. Mathew Sule, Chairman of Plateau Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) says physically challenged students will now be involved in public primary schools’ sports competition to widen their horizon.

Sule made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos.

According to him, the measure is part of the initiatives to ensure inclusiveness for the special group.

He said that the last competitions held earlier in the year showcased talents in different sports and enhanced the selection of those to represent the state in bigger sports platforms.

"The all public primary school competitions involve sports, debate, essay writing, arts and craft exhibitions earlier in the year and it was last organised in 1990.

"It is a great opportunity for our young children to showcase their sports talents, one of the best footballers during the event was picked to play for an under- 13 Football Club in Nigeria."

Sule said that the preparation for the 2017 competition had since begun and commended the National Lottery Fund for donating sports equipment to 47 schools in Plateau recently.

He said the gesture would further shore up efforts to sustain sports as an extracurricular activity required for the curriculum for the primary schools.

Sule said that sports was an agent of socialisation that created avenue for social interaction, integration and unity as many developed countries adopted sports to promote unity among their citizens.

He said sports should be encouraged in schools to achieve the same objectives, especially at the basic level of child development.