DAWN Games 2014 Ends Today

Curtains will fall on the maiden edition of South-West Secondary Schools Games tagged DAWN Games 2014 today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The schools sports tournament, which saw over 2000 students and officials from Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun States competing in 12 sports will come to a close in a glamorous ceremony expected to be attended by the Executive Governors of all the participating states.

The closing ceremony, which will be chaired by the host Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos, will also be attended by eminent Lagosians, members of Lagos State Executive Council, Permanent Secretaries, members of the State’s House of Assembly, members of Conference 57, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akilolu, Managing Directors of all the sponsor’s companies.

The Commissioner, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, has also directed all teachers and students of the state’s public secondary schools to come out en masse to witness the fun-filled ceremony.

Events such as the finals of 100 metres 4 x 400m relay and 4 x 400m relay for boys and girls will be decided, while a calisthenics display by selected students as well as a music extravaganza will be staged to spice up the occasion.

Meanwhile, the third place match of the football event was won by Team Lagos after they defeated Team Osun in a one sided tie that ended 7-0 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Team Lagos also cleared Basketball gold medals in boys and girls’ categories. Team Lagos beat Ogun 73 – 33 points in the boys final, Lagos also defeated Oyo 24-22 points in the girls final at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park , Yaba.

DAWN Games: Oyo humbles Lagos, battles Ogun in football final

A hard fighting Oyo State football team stopped the ambition of Team Lagos from reaching the final of the male football event at the ongoing DAWN Games at the Agege Stadium on Wednesday.

The pulsating encounter saw Team Oyo scoring two quick goals in the first half of the match through Tajudeen Sodiq, while effort of Team Lagos to equaliser could only produce a goal in the second half through Michael Andrew.

In the other semi final match, Team Ogun thrashed Team Osun 1-0 to set up a final clash against Team Oyo on Thursday. Lagos coach Leo Lawson blamed defensive errors for the defeat, saying that his boys lost concentration when it matters most in the course of the match.

“Our target now is on the third place match against Team Osun. We beat them in the group stage and I expect my boys to do the same again when we meet for the bronze medal tie. I hope to present a new set of players that had not played since we began this competition,” said Lawson.

Secretary of Ogun State Football Association, Leo Adenekan is however looking forward to his state winning football gold at the expense of Team Oyo.

He said after his team beat Team Osun yesterday “I’ve the confidence that we’ll win the gold medal of this event on Thursday by the grace of God,” Leo said.

The third place match between Lagos and Osun will be played by 10a.m Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, while the female final between Lagos and Ogun will be decided by 1:30pm at the same venue. The final will take place by 3:30pm.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mrs. Modupe Omonigbehin is satisfied with the performance of his state in the ongoing Games, which will end on Friday.

Omonigbehin noted that the athletes have proved themselves beyond her expectations, adding that the state may come second at the end of the championship.

“I’m quite impressed with the performance of our students. We have won some medals in some events and we can still win more before the tournament ends on Friday,” she said.

Omonigbehin said that the DAWN Games has lived up to expectations in the area of organisation. She commended the Lagos State Government for its effort to make the tournament a huge success.

She said that the sports facilities put in place by host helped the athletes to perform better and urged other regions in Nigeria to organise an event that will make their athletes prepare for National Sports Festival and future national competitions.

Despite the fact that Team Ondo failed to participate, Omonigbehin said their absence has not really affected the DAWN Games and believes that Team Ondo will take part in the next edition.

Team Lagos Clears 30 of 32 Gold medals at Swimming event of DAWN Games

Team Lagos completed almost completed a clean sweep of medals of the swimming event at the Dawn games, Lagos 2014.

The swimming pool of the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, was the venue of this Epoch making event, and a sizeable crowd was on hand to witness history being made.

The Lagos team won 30 Gold medals from a possible 32 with 27 Silver and 3 Bronze.

Morayo Okungbowa

Star of the swimming event and arguably star of the tournament is Okungbowa Morayo of Lagos, who won 10 Gold 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals to a make a total of 13 medals, the highest haul of medals by any individual athlete at the DAWN Games so far

This achievement will definitely be impossible for any other athlete at this games to surpass or even match.

Oyo came 2nd on the Swimming medals table with 2 Gold medals 3 Silver and 22 bronze medals, while Ogun state came 3rd with no Gold, 2 Silver and 7 bronze medals.

The kind of display put by Morayo Okungbowa and other young athletes at the DAWN Games only confirms the fact that this country is blessed with a lot of talent and its grassroots competitions like this that we need to harness the various hidden talents across the Nation

Sola Rogers.

DAWN Games kicks off in Lagos

The maiden edition of South-West Secondary Schools Games tagged DAWN Games begins on Friday May 16 in Lagos with over 2,000 athletes and officials in attendance.

The DAWN Games, which will be competed by athletes from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti State, is a 12 sports tournament of Nigeria School Sports Federation, NSSF. The sports are Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Football, Gymnastics, Scrabble, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Taekwondo and Volleyball. It will be staged in three centres across Lagos: Agege Stadium, Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba and the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, while the NYSC Camp at Iyana Ipaja in Lagos.

According to the schedule of event released to the media by the Technical Sub-Committee of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), athletes and officials are expected to check in to the Games Village on Friday with accreditations taking off in full swing, while events will begin on Sunday May 18 with Football and Gymnastics taking the centre stage at the Agege Stadium and Rowe Park Sports Centre respectively.

According to the schedules, Rowe Park will also play host to Badminton, Basketball and Tennis. At Teslim Balogun Stadium, sports such as Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball, Swimming, Scrabble and Athletics will be on stage, while Agege Stadium will also host Chess.

It was gathered that Team Ogun, would present 186 athletes, while no fewer than 163 athletes will represent Team Lagos.

Meanwhile, a member of basketball team for Lagos, Ololade Azeez has expressed confidence that Lagos will win gold medal in both male and female basketball event of the competition.

“I am happy to be among the players that will represent Lagos at DAWN Games. Our training so far is superb and very impressive. We are in good form now and ready to win gold medals for team Lagos in Basketball both male and female category,” he said.

Head Coach of Badminton of Team Lagos, Kayode Olatunji said there is high spirit in camp as the players are looking forward to participating at the DAWN Games, adding that the supports the players and officials received from the state government will boost their morale to excel at the Games, which will end on 24 May.

MOC hoists flags for DAWN Game

The hoisting of flags for the South-West Secondary Schools Games tagged DAWN Games was held yesterday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Members of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) chaired by Wahid Oshodi attended the flag hoisting ceremony.

The MOC boss said at the ceremony that the hoisting symbolised the readiness of the host, Lagos to stage a glamorous competition.

“I want to tell our brothers and sisters that from other south-west states that we are expecting them for the Games. We want to show again that we can repeat the show and the glamour of the last National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012 during the DAWN Games,” he said.

“The athletes and officials will experience the hospitality Lagos is known of at the championship. Everything from health, security and all those things that will make us put in place a glamorous competition are ready. The facilities are world class and by Friday this week, the Games will begin,” Oshodi said

The DAWN Games, which will kick off on May 16 to 24 and will be staged at three centres: Agege Stadium, Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba and the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Over 2000 athletes from six states made up of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and host – Lagos are expected to compete in 12 school sports events.

Corporate Nigeria backs DAWN Games, as Lagos sports festival ends on Saturday

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the DAWN Games 2014 has recorded significant success in its marketing drive as more companies continue to sign on as sponsors/partners for the Games.

The DAWN Games (South-West States Secondary Schools Games) will hold in Lagos from May 16 to 24, 2014 with over 2,000 athletes from the six states, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos competing for honours in 12 sports.

Some of the companies that have signed on with the Marketing Subcommittee include Nestle Nigeria Plc, Honeywell Foods, Bingo Foods and Beverages with Vivi Chocolate, GT Bank, First Bank and PZ.

Some of these companies are already very visible at the designated Games venues. According to the Marketing Subcommittee, other companies are expected to come on board before the Games commence.

Chairman of the LOC and Lagos State Commissioner of Sports, Wahid Oshodi, expressed the state government’s appreciation to all the companies that are supporting the DAWN Games, adding that this only goes to confirm that in Lagos State, there is indeed an excellent collaboration between the public and private sectors in all areas, sports inclusive.

He further enjoined other private sector companies to support the state government in its efforts to ensure effective and sustainable sports development.

Meanwhile, Star College of Ikorodu have emerged the winners of the Men’s Volleyball event after defeating Rockford College, Ikorodu at the final played at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos at the Lagos State Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games which ends on Saturday.

Star College won the final by 3- 0, while United Christian College, Ikorodu settled for the third position. Star College team were also adjudged the best male school in the Volleyball event of the Games.

Davo Patrick of Star College was awarded the tournament’s Most Valuable Player due to his performance.

Rockford College, Ikorodu dominated the women’s category, as the school defeated United Christian Secondary School by 3-0.
Musa Abosede of Rockford was adjudged Volleyball’s Most Valuable Player in the female cadre, while Ajigbada Girls Senior High School, Surulere were the Best Female volleyball school.

DAWN Games will foster unity among youths in South West, says Ibirogba

DAWN Games will foster unity among youths in South West, says Ibirogba • Ogun shapes up for tourney

Chairman of Media and Publicity Subcommittee of the DAWN Games, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, has said that the tournament would help foster good relationship among the youth of the south-west states of the country

The maiden edition of the DAWN Games, a competition among secondary schools in Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States, will be held in Lagos from May 16 to 24, 2014.

The chairman of the Media Subcommittee, who is also the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State said the competition would bring youth in the region together to compete in a healthy environment, adding that the DAWN Games is symbolic because the south-west states want to show the rest of the country the cordial relationship that exists within the people and governments of the region and the need to use youth and sports to preach unity among the people.

Meanwhile, as the kick off date of the Games draws nearer, Team Ogun say they can’t wait for the school sports championship to start.

Director of Sports, Ogun State Sports Council, Mr. Adesola Faleti, said the state’s athletes are ready and are in good sporting form to excel at the competition.

“The athletes have been training for a couple of months. We are going to participate in 12 sports events and in Ogun State, we specialise in more than 33 sports, thus taking 12 out of 33 won’t be a problem for us,” said Faleti during the inspection of facilities and venues for the championship which took place recently in Lagos.

Faleti noted that the Games would enable Ogun State Sports Council to assess its grassroots developmental programmes which has been well supported by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and more importantly it would assist the sports council the opportunity to replace
its ageing athletes.

”Since inception of Governor Amosun’s administration, we had been mandated to develop sports at the grassroots. I think the DAWN Games will definitely assist us to discover budding talent to replace the older athletes,” he said.

The former national pugilist said the state’s effective grassroots sports programme had earned Ogun a positive result as the National Sports Commission, NSC, invited over 22 athletes from the state to the national team, while six junior football players were also invited to the camp of the national U-13 team.

“DAWN Games can bring positive and better future for the nation as athletes we will discover in the regional championship can be selected for the country’s future international outings.

“I believe the DAWN Games is another opportunity to explain the commitment of the southwest state governments towards building Nigerian future stars who would take over from the ageing national athletes.

The DAWN Games is the needed grassroots developmental programme which we can use to aid the growth of sports and the wellbeing of our athletes,” he said.

He concluded that Ogun State Sports Council is working with the support of the Ministry of Education to place athletes that will excel in the DAWN Games on scholarship for them to continue their education.

The DAWN Games will feature 12 sports, which are athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and volleyball with over 2000 athletes and officials expected to participate.

The events will take place at Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Agege Stadium. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp in Iyana-Ipaja will serve as the Games Village.

Facilities inspection, technical committee meeting for DAWN Games hold

The Joint Technical Meeting (JTM) and inspection of facilities for the DAWN Games (South West Secondary Schools Games) holding in Lagos, comes up this week from Thursday April 23 to 25, 2014.

The DAWN Games, involving all the southwest states of Nigeria – Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ondo, starts May 16 to 24, this year in Lagos.

According to the Local Organising Committee (LOC), the Director of Sports/ General Manager, Sports Council and the Director in charge of sports in the Ministry of Education will represent each state at the JTM and inspection.

Others expected are representatives from DAWN Commission, National Sports Commission (NSC) South West Zonal Coordinator and LOC members.

The inspection begins on Thursday April 24 and the team is expected to inspect the venues like Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba; Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere; and Agege Stadium.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp in Iyana-Ipaja, which will serve as the Games Village will also be inspected.

The Joint Technical Meeting follows the inspection on Friday April 25.

The games will feature 12 sports, which are athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and volleyball with over 2000 athletes and officials expected to participate.

Lagos to host maiden DAWN Games

As part of efforts to encourage grassroots sports development in the region, the maiden South-West Secondary School Sports Festival tagged DAWN Games will be hosted by the Lagos State Government in May 2014.
This was revealed at the end of the three-day meeting held in Lagos and attended by stakeholders from the six South West states, National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) among others.

In a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO, Lagos State Sports Council, Bashir Agunloye, DAWN, is an acronym for Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, brings together the government of the six states of South West Nigeria – Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Lagos, in a concerted strategic developmental process geared towards social, economic and regional integration and sports is one of the tools being deployed to actualise the agenda.

The DAWN Games are expected to create a forum for youths in the region to harness their sporting talents while also encouraging mass participation in sports at the grassroots level.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General, DAWN Commission, Dipo Famakinwa emphasised the role of sports in the DAWN agenda and assured all of the commitment of the DAWN Commission to work for the success and sustainability of the games.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Enitan Oshodi stated the commitment of the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola to hosting a very successful maiden edition of the Games.

“Governor Fashola believes that development of Sports at the grassroots is a major way of taking our youths off the streets”, Oshodi said.

The maiden edition which will hold from 16 to 24 May, 2014, and it will involve athletes in junior secondary schools, (JSS) and senior secondary schools (SSS) in the South-West states and will feature 12 sports -athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.

Meanwhile the meeting also considered and ratified the rules and regulations for the games, the code of conduct for athletes and officials, the timelines and various other matters bordering on the hosting of a successful games.

The stakeholders, however, lauded the Lagos State Government and Governor Babatunde Fashola in particular, for taking up the hosting of the maiden edition of the DAWN Games.