By Magnus Emuji
Delta State Government (DTSG) has revealed the Okowa led administration’s collaboration with the Zenith Bank is predicated on the resolve of Governor Ifeany Okowa to foster the development of grassroots sports in the state.
The state Commissioner for Primary Education, Chief Sunday Onoriode stated this at the Stephen Keshi stadium, Asaba during the Zenith Bank Delta Headmasters’ Cup final between Owa Model Primary School, Boji-Boji Owa, Ika North East Local Government Area and Ogedegbe Primary School, Warri in Warri South.
Chief Onoriode said that Zenith Bank sponsored Delta Headmasters’ cup was organised to discover talented children in the game of football and nurture them to play in the under 17 games.
He stated that Okowa’s administration had spent about eight years in promoting sports activities and creating a master plan for the development of grassroots sports in partnership with the organised private sector.
Chief Onoriode said that the primary aim of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education was to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the Zenith Bank Headmasters’ cup football competition met the expectations of the sponsors of the tournament and other stakeholders in the field of football.
The Primary Education Commissioner noted that the final of the 2023 competition was not only a unique project with its grassroots footing but social strata to celebrate one of the achievements of the present administration.
He explained that over 610 primary schools across the state registered to participate in the competition, stressing that at the end of the competition, one team would emerge winner.
It could be recalled that Owa Model Primary School, Boji-Boji Owa defeated Ogedegbe primary school, Warri in Warri South with 3-1 on penalty after playing 3-3 in both halves and the regulation time and Owa Model would go home with an 18 seater bus and one million naira while Ogedegbe primary school settled for the sum of seven hundred and fifty thousand naira.