Gabriel-Okon is MVP as Ondo wins first BESS Games

Ondo State showed its determination to win the maiden edition of the Basic Education School Sport (BESS) Games from the onset of the competition, maintaining a good lead on the medals table from the beginning to the end.

But although Ondo won the competition held in Abuja from November 6 to 15, Akwa Ibom’s Hephzibah Gabriel-Okon was so spectacular that she was named the overall best athlete of the event.
Organised by the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), this multi-sport event aims to discover talents among primary school pupils nationwide.

Over 1,000 pupils from 25 states, including host Abuja, competed in nine events, including athletics, ayo, badminton, chess, table tennis, football, scrabble, handball, and volleyball. The athletes collectively won 139 medals across 40 events.

Ondo State topped the medals table with nine gold, 13 silver, and nine bronze medals. Akwa Ibom followed in second place with six gold, five silver, and six bronze medals, while host Abuja finished third with five gold, three silver, and nine bronze medals.

Gabriel Okon dazzled with her gold medal performances in the girls’ 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x100m relay, contributing four of Akwa Ibom’s six gold medals.

At the weekend’s closing ceremony, UBEC Executive Secretary, Hamid Bobboyi, praised the athletes’ performances, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to school sports development.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, represented by his Special Adviser, Technical, Bawa Michael, highlighted the athletes’ performances as evidence of the country’s abundant sporting talent.
NSSF President Olabisi Joseph commended UBEC and the participating states for their commitment, which made the tournament a