Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has declared that all Basic Education School Games will henceforth become an annual event in the state. Governor Alia made the declaration at the grand finale of the 2025 edition of All Basic Education Schools Games held on Friday at LGEA Primary and Junior Secondary School Kua, Makurdi.
The Governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Barr. Moses Atagher congratulated the winners and participants, urging them to see the platform as a launchpad to becoming national and international sports champions. He commended the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and Dr. Grace Adagba, Executive Chairman of SUBEB, for her outstanding leadership
While noting that his administration recognizes the impact of sports in shaping young minds and promoting physical development, he added that the revival of school sports is a deliberate step toward harnessing talents and building character. “I’m happy to declare that this sports revival has returned. It is no longer a one-off activity but an annual tradition we will sustain until every school in Benue is equipped with sporting facilities to nurture young talents,” he maintained.
The Executive Chairman of Benue SUBEB, Dr. Grace Adagba, expressed profound appreciation to the Executive Governor for his commendable leadership and UBEC for sponsoring the event. She emphasized that the goal of the games is to build champions through grassroots sports and to provide children with a solid foundation for a brighter future.
An international footballer, Ogenyi Onazi, who was the guest speaker, praised SUBEB for using sports to positively impact children. He encouraged the Board to deepen its efforts in school sports development, saying, “I was a nobody, but sports took me to the top. These children can become even greater if we keep believing in them.”
The event featured various sporting events, with outstanding performers recognized and rewarded with medals and valuable prizes. Zone B emerged as the overall winner of the games with 31 medals, a trophy, and a ₦500,000 cash prize.
