By Sarah NEGEDU
Students of Government Secondary School Karu have emerged winners of the 2023 Milo Secondary School Basketball Competition after defeating 34 other schools in the preliminary stages.
The victory places the Federal Capital Territory ahead of eight other states, as the male and female students of GSS Karu came first and second positions in the Boys and Girls Basketball Secondary School championships, respectively.
The Director of Sports, Education Secretariat, Hashimu Adamu, who presented the students to the the permanent secretary said the students distinguished themselves in the competition with 15 years old Joshua Augustine emerging as the overall best in the competition.
He said the students performed exceptionally well in the national finals despite participating in the championship as the best loser, “they changed the tide and emerged first and second in the boys and girls championships and now qualify to represent Nigeria in the World School Competition in China, later in the year.”
Responding, the FCTA permanent secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, said the students’ victory gives credence to the fact that the FCTA doesn’t just groom students in academics, but in other fields to enable them excel in life.
Adesola, while also emphasising the need to catch students young, pointed out that sports contribute significantly to student development.
The permanent secretary also assured the students of the administration’s support with a pledged to make resources available for them to prepare for the global tournament in China.
The boys were rewarded with a cash prize of N1million, trophy, medals and training shoes for each players, packs of Milo beverages, while the girls got a cash prize of N750,000 and same takeaways.