Grange School, Ikeja, emerged as the leading institution at the second Pan African School Games, winning the overall honours in the Under-13 and Under-15 divisions, while St Saviour’s School, Ikoyi, claimed the Under-11 crown at James Hope College in Lekki.
Grange School takes top honours
The three-day competition featured more than 400 pupils representing 11 schools. Grange School finished first in the overall standings for both the Under-13 and Under-15 age groups and was presented with a new bus provided by Mikano Changan Motors.
Individual sport results across the age categories included:
- In the Under-11 competition, St Saviour’s School won the swimming and athletics events.
- St Saviour’s shared the Under-11 football title with Lagos Preparatory & Secondary School.
- Grange School secured the swimming and athletics titles in both the Under-13 and Under-15 categories.
- Riverbank School won football in the Under-13 and Under-15 divisions.
Scouts track emerging talent
Travih Nunayon, the Lagos State Sports Commission’s Director of Sports, said talent scouts were assigned to the Games to spot young athletes with potential.
Nunayon attended on behalf of the commission’s Director General, Lekan Fatodu, and said talks were already under way with the organisers about maintaining the competition in future years.
He added that standout participants could be considered for major youth events, including the National Youth Games and National Intermediate Games, while the commission would keep following their development.
Creating sporting and educational opportunities
The Games were organised by Seun Akinbohun, Busola Tejumola and Aderoju Ope Ajayi. Co-founder Ope Ajayi said the initiative was created to give children a platform to develop as athletes without neglecting their education.
She said the founders were sports parents themselves and understood the pathways sport could create, particularly through scholarship opportunities.
“We want children to look back and say this is where I was discovered, this is where I got a scholarship opportunity and this is where I had my opportunities,” she said.
Ope Ajayi, who also serves as chairman of the Lagos State Aquatics Association, expressed appreciation to the competing schools, parents, families and partners for supporting the event.
Government and corporate backing
The Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Sports Commission supported the organisers as partners for the competition.
Corporate backing came from:
- Prime Atlantic and Zenith Bank
- Plumtre Advisory and Mikano Changan Motors
- UAC Foods and Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX)
- Team 33 Productions, Flytime and What Media
- Kantar, Logic City and Flutterwave
Participants and coaches praised the staging of the second Pan African School Games and said they hoped upcoming editions would attract a larger number of schools.
