By Abubakar Baba Ahmad.
Pupil Athletes participating in the ongoing 2026 National Basic Education School Sports BESS Games in Bauchi have been urged to take care of their mental and physical health in order to remain fit and active at every stage of their lives.
A Medical Expert and Sports Official with Niger State Contingent, Dr Faruq Abdulyakeen made the call at a Cultural exhibition as well as Education and Health talk session for participants of the BESS games in Bauchi.
Dr Faruq Abdulyakeen listed fitness, managing stress, and other forms of anxiety when it comes to mental and physical health as critical to every sportsperson, hence the need for the pupil athletes to pay attention to their well-being.
“Apart from physical exercise, we have what we can still classify as a way of managing our hygiene, probably, in terms of our balanced diet, cardiovascular management, which is heart management, stress, mental health, at the same times as how to take care of our hygiene when it comes to water and the rest, and food”, Dr Abdulyakeen advises.
According to him, an athlete should prioritise hygiene management especially when taking water and food to ensure balanced diet, cardiovascular management, which deals with the heart, stress, and mental health.
In a presentation on Self Confidence, the Sports Desk Officer Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board Mrs. Odika Antonia, charged the participants to have confidence in being good representatives of their states, coaches, officials, be disciplined, have self value, imbibe the spirit of teamwork, and cordial relationship among fellow athletes.
“They will have that cordial relationship with their fellow athletes. This competition helps us to know each other. It enables them to see other athletes that come from different states. That if they get home, they will have something to tell their parents. I have seen them being happy, jubilating, and winning medals. They never fight here, and I’m seeing that cordial relationship in them. And I’m seeing that zeal, that spirit of sportsmanship in them”, Mrs Odika explains.
In a remark, the President National SUBEB Sports Officers Forum, NASSOF Mr Ipede Joseph said the main objective of the programme is to nurture the participants, and carry them young, towards discovering future talents like Jay Jay Okocha in football, Mary Onyali in athletics, and the likes of Anthony Joshua in boxing.
Mr Ipede Joseph who said the total number of participating students from twenty states across the federation stood at 1,100, noted that education and sports are two inseparable activities in the lives of children hence the resolve by UBEC to initiate the games to promote unity, and peace in the country.
“Yes, the main objective of this program is to nurture, carry them young, discover future talents like Okocha in football, Mary Onyali in athletics, and like Anthony Joshua in boxing, and I want to appreciate UBEC for standing by us firmly.”
“They are our father and mother. The assistance is 100%. And I must commend all the 36 states, SUBEB, Abisubek, and FCT for their total support towards this program”, Mr Ipede says.
Speaking to Radio Nigeria, some of the participants Miss Eborka Guinevere from Delta State and Ibrahim Muhammad from Gombe who said the competition exposed them to lots of life lessons, promised to take home the experiences and knowledge gained at the annual event.
