Edgerley House has emerged the overall winner of the 17th Edgerley Memorial Girls’ Secondary School Annual Inter House Sports Competition held at the School Premises on the 21st of February, 2018. This year’s victory makes it the fourth consecutive time the House will be winning the most coveted sports trophy. The annual sports fiesta which started earlier in the week saw six houses competing in various sporting events which include football, short-put, javelin, march-past, catching the train, cultural dance competition and various track and field events. The houses that took part in the competitions are Edgerley House, Orange Grove, Chalmas House, Asuquo-Anwan House, Nya-Inyang House and MacDonald House. The day’s event started with parade by the school’s special squad in slow and quick march-pasts, climaxing with the three hearty cheers to the special guest of honour.

Welcoming guests at the event, the principal of EMGSS, Elder (Mrs) Iquo Oboko Oku stressed the need for students to participate in sports activities, maintaining that sports plays a very prominent role in the lives of students: “sports, as we all

know is very important in the life of a student. It is an essential part of extra-curricular activities that provides for the physical well-being of students. It is in recognition of this essentiality that the Ministry of Education, in line with the National Policy on Education makes it one of its focal point in order to ensure that students are actively involved in various sporting activities”. She averred that the school management under her watch has relentlessly strive to provide facilities for various sports activities and to create an enabling environment for sports to thrive within and

outside the school: “I want to inform you that our students, apart from this occasion, are fully involved in co-curricular activities including sports. The school management has continued to do its best in providing facilities in this regard”. Elder Oboko concluded by urging both participants and officials in the day’s events to comport themselves in the highest spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion and PTA chairman, Chief Nta E. Nta said that sports helps to build and balance the physical and mental needs of students for maximum intellectual result. He thanked the school management and

indeed parents who contributed in one way or the other towards making the day a reality despite harrowing economic realities in the country. Also speaking at the occasion, the special guest of honour and chairman of the General Assembly Education Authority (GAEA), Eld. Mrs. Akpabio Nkpang, represented by the Administrative Secretary of the Authority, Rev. Oboko Oku expressed joy at the skills displayed by students at various events. He assured the school management of the continued support of the Education Authority in both sports and other infrastructural needs.

Earlier in the week, Edgerley House emerged winner in a tough contested final in the football match, with Asuquo-Anwan emerging as first runner-up. The third place was taken by MacDonald who defeated Chalmas 5-0. In the final result, Edgerley House emerged overall best for the fourth consecutive time with 722 points. Orange Grove came second with 617 points. Nya-Inyang was third with 504 points. 4th position was occupied by MacDonald and Chalmas with 459 points each while Asuquo-Anwan came 6th with 401 points.

Speaking to Edgerley Press on their continued success legacy, Edgerley House Mistress, Mrs Anthonia Ikwuoma attributed it to hard work, consistency and relentless efforts of house inmates. She says: “we thank God for crowning our efforts with success. I am very excited. We worked so hard, harnessing the talents and skills we have, knowing who to present in each event, making changes at the right time and what have you – victory. We are not going to be unnecessarily overwhelmed by this success. We are tightening modalities for sustenance because we are very much aware that we are still in a competition. That has been our spirit of victory” she concluded. Edgerley Press equally spoke with Asuquo-Anwan House Mistress, Miss Offiong Ene who maintained that the House is not demoralized in any way because it came 6th. In her opinion; “it is a competition and someone must take the last position no matter how best you compete. We started very well but we could not sustain the vibrant spirit. Some of our house inmates got injured but generally we have learnt something which we are definitely going to improve on. That is the spirit of sportsmanship. We congratulate the winners. Today, we congratulate them but tomorrow, we gonna receive such eulogies”, she concluded. Edgerley Press also gathered that this year’s fiesta marks a paradigm shift, from contemporary

dance competition to cultural dance competition. Speaking exclusively to one of our reporters, the games Mistress, Miss Rita Oyom explained that this year’s event was specially marked out to celebrate different cultures as traditional norms are on the verge of being eroded by foreign traditions especially among the younger ones. She expressed satisfaction on the successful hosting of the event, urging all houses to work on their lapses towards a hitch-free and more successful outing next year.

Edgerley Annual Inter House Sports is an event organized by the school to celebrate sports, inculcating novel skills and discipline into students which go a long way to prepare them for future leadership and entrepreneurial roles in the society.