The Chairman of Sport Writers (SWAN) Lagos State Chapter Olatutu Oladunni, has commended the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for the prompt reaction to the closure of the Chrisland School which had its student allegedly killed during their sporting inter-house sports.
On Sunday, the Lagos State Ministry of Education ordered the temporary closure of Chrisland School, Opebi-Ikeja, following the reported death of a 12-year-old student of the school, Whitney Adeniran who was reportedly to have slumped during the school inter-house sports in Agege Stadium.
Meanwhile, Whitney’s parents had on Saturday raised the alarm over the sudden death of their daughter during the school’s inter-house sports in the Agege Stadium.
Lagos SWAN urges the Lagos State Government to look deep into the issue adequately, as sports is not only a unifying religion and integrating element, but it is also an essential phenomenon that gives life and hope to a common man.
The association wonders why the school did not make adequate medical provisions available at the sports venue as this is against sporting rules and ethics.
Chairman Lagos SWAN, Olatutu Oladunni, therefore advices Lagos State Government to ensure that schools in Lagos state liaise and have a mutual working relationship with Lagos State Sports Commission henceforth as this will enable the Sports Commission gives full orientation to the schools and guide any school that wants to hold sporting events in Lagos State. At least a technical officer who will serve as a representative to the Sports Commission will be on ground during any inter-house sports event holding in Lagos. This technical officer will monitor events to ensure that all provisional rules and guides are in place and strictly adhere to.
She said it is also essential for schools in Lagos State to establish a good working relationship with Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) and Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), as this will also enable the schools understand school sports functionalities and allow them tap into diverse opportunities that will help build the future of the students for future upgrade.
Olatutu Oladunni noted further that Lagos State government over the years has been outstanding in the area of citizens well-being, youth developmental growth and human capacity advancement, adding that these have helped Lagos State builds enviable standards and laudable track records.
“It is high time the government makes it mandatory for schools to work closely with the Lagos State Sports Commission to ensure standard practise and ethics are embraced by the schools in Lagos, and also ensure that all necessary amenities are put in place by the school management before the event. According to her, this will serve as an approval from the Sports Commission to kick start the event, while the representative of the Sports Commission must also be on ground to ensure that the schools comply strictly with medical and safety rules to avoid future reoccurrence of what happened at the Chrisland School, Opebi, Ikeja,” Oladunni said.
She, however, encourages the state government not to relent in the investigations, adding that anyone that is found wanting should be made to face the law.
The chairman therefore urges citizens not to give up on sports as it is not just an integrating element of unification, but also an essential tool that attracts and boosts tourism and Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of every progressive society and most importantly, also a means of restoration of hope and life to a common man.
