By Abubakar Baba Ahmad.
The 2026 Basic Education School Sports BESS Games has commenced in Bauchi State with pupils from over twenty out of the thirty-six states of the federation and the FCT in attendance.
Declaring the Second edition of the Games open, the Chief Host and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed said the event is an avenue towards the discovery and nurturing of young talents for future national and International competitions.
Bala Mohammed represented by the State Commissioner of Education Dr Lawal Mohammed said the selection of Bauchi as host for the games is not a coincidence considering the huge investment in education especially the basic sub sector.
He called on the officials and pupil athletes to exhibit the true spirit of sportsmanship, fairness, and excellence with deserving winners truly rewarded.
The Executive Secretary Universal Basic Education Commission Hajiya Aisha Garba represented by the Northeast Zonal Director Alhaji Abdullahi Jarma said the commission has reviewed the allocation for sports development from one to two percent of the entire annual matching grants.
Aisha Garba who said the BESS games was initiated not just as a competition but a platform to uncover and nurture young talents across the country, appreciated the Bauchi State government for being the first state to host the competition.
Also Speaking, the Commissioners of Education Dr Lawal Mohammed and that of Youth and Sports Babayo Gabarin acknowledged that educational Institutions remain the backbone to sustainable development, expressing confidence in the participants to exhibit the culture of sportsmanship, mutual understanding and lasting friendship.
In their separate goodwill messages, the President National SUBEB Sports Officers Forum, NASSOF Mr Ipede Joseph and the Permanent Commissioner two Bauchi SUBEB, Alhaji Abdullahi Hardawa appreciated UBEC and all basic education stakeholders for developing grassroot sports across the country, encouraging the participants to compete with discipline, fairness and excellence nurtured in character and skills.
The participating States so far are Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
The Competition which started with a football match saw the host Bauchi playing a one whole draw with Abia State team.