Cross River State has won the fourth edition of the National School Sports Festival which it hosted by carting 114 gold, 104 silver and 100 bronze medals.Lagos State came second with 89 gold, 72 silver and 80 bronze medals, while Ondo State came third with 62 gold, 65 silver and 75 bronze medals. Team Niger won a gold medal in U-15 football competition for boys while Team Cross River got silver and Team Anambra went home with bronze medal. Speaking while declaring the festivals closed at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Governor Liyel Imoke said the competition has the potential of producing future champions thereby enabling the country to regain its place in the field of sports globally while thanking the organisers for putting together a good show as the end of the festival justified the effort which they put into it.The Governor lamented that though some people take sports development for granted therefore resulting to the dwindling performance of the country in both continental and international tournaments, Cross River is committed to bringng back the values of sports by investing in its development, adding that, sports afford youths opportunity to express themselves, socialize as well as become good citizens of the society because beyond running, it has helped to develop and integrate the society.He commended the participating states for their involvement and commitment in youth development and urged them to continue to invest in it, explaining that Cross River State's programme in sports is meant to develop a better society as well as bequeath unto the children a better future than what they see today.According to him, the festival exuded strength, commitment, success, energy and zeal as every one who participated was a champion which means that there is a great hope for the nation, adding that those who excelled should do better and be celebrated because the festival has the potentials of producing future world champions while commending the participants for their good behavior as no ugly incident occurred during the eight day event.The Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Raymond Obeten disclosed that the idea of sport development as initiated by Governor Liyel Imoke in Cross River State is productive as evident in the festival, adding that the state will continue to invest in the development of the youths through sport with the procurement to modern equipment to enable it change the face of sports in Nigeria.Obeten attributed the feat recorded by the state, which was unprecedented, to the efforts of the governor as well as the sports consultant, Dr. Bruce Ijirigho, stressing that the political will exhibited by the state is immeasurable because 'it is where the dividend of good governance is displayed at all levels'.The President of National School Sports Federation (NSSF) Malam Ibrahim Mohammad in an address, expressed appreciation to the Cross River State government for hosting the festival which afforded children from all the states opportunity to converge and compete while rating the eight day event in Calabar as 'one of the best if not the best in the country which makes Cross River a home of sports'. Highlights of the closing ceremony included the conferment on Governor Imoke as a bonafide National School Sports Festival official with a certificate by its president and presentation of prizes to winning teams. The occasion was also used as a concluding part of the second dry run of the Carnival Calabar which revelers from the five competiting bands, led by wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, performed.
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