Lagos, Ojo top at Maltina School Games

By Victor Nnorom

The maiden edition of Maltina School Games came to a glorious end last night as 17-year-old  Joy Ojo of Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior High School emerged as the Overall Best Athlete of the national final held at the Sports Complex of  Yaba College of Technology in Lagos.

The budding star won three gold medals in 100m, 200m and 4x 100 meters race to become the first winner of the major prize and earn for herself a scholarship to any Federal University of choice.

Aside Ojo’s feat, Lagos State also emerged as the overall winner of the event with 21 Gold, 15 Silver and five Bronze medals just as Federal Capital Territory (FCT) placed second with four Gold, 13 Silver and 10 Bronze. Kano State was third with four Gold, and six Bronze medals while Anambra took the rear with three Gold, 4 Silver and 11 Bronze medals.

In other awards, Sikirat Anifowoshe won the Best Junior Girl award with Gold medals in 100m and 4 x 100 gold races while Moses Okon of EUBA Junior Secondary School, Lagos won the Best Junior Boy athlete with gold medals in 400 m and 4 x 100 relay.

Ojo also doubled as the Best Senior Girl with gold medals in the events that gave her the best overall winner just as Onyebuchi Nnebedum of Christ Redeemer College, Anambra State won the Best Male Athlete with gold medals in Javelin and Shot put events.

Rave of the moment, Mayoukun and Teni stimulated the crowd with some of their favourite lyrics just as calisthenics display from school children rounded up a memorable afternoon for all the participants.

The Maltina School Games is a new intervention in School Sports by the country’s number one family drink from the stable of Nigeria Breweries PLC.

Over 20 million children have been impacted in this maiden edition of the Maltina School Games which many describe as a new chapter in sports development in Nigeria.