Premier Lotto Athletics Tourney: 15-Year Old Yakubu Wins MOA Award

Students of International Schools Lagos, ISL were not surprised when their colleague, Balikis Yakubu was adjudged the Most Outstanding Athlete, MOA, (Female) of the just concluded Premier Lotto Lagos Athletics Championship at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos at the weekend.

Fifteen years old Yakubu was the only athlete that came first in two different races for her District in the competition, sponsored by Premier Lotto, a company owned by Chief Kessington Adebutu of the famous Face-to-Face Pools in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Sports and the state’s Athletic Association.

Yakubu won the 100m girls at a time of 12.4secs and beat other contenders in the 200m race with a time of 25.7secs. The sponsor of the competition presented Yakubu with a laptop and iPAD phone for her effort, while the Most Outstanding Athlete award in the male category was won by Sunday Emmanuel of Somolu Senior Secondary School after winning second position in the 100m and won the 200m (23.4secs.).

District Two, however, was adjudged the overall winner of the tournament with 8 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze medals. District Three came second with 5 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals. District Four came third with 5 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals, while Distinct One was fourth with 4 silver and 1 bronze medals. In the fifth position was District Six with 4 bronze medals, while District Five came sixth with 2 bronze medals.

Sponsor, Chief Adebutu, who is fondly called ‘Baba Ijebu’ applauded the performance of the students in the competition, saying that with the active collaboration between governments at various levels and the private sector, talents in the grassroots can be discovered and nurtured to stardom. He assured that he would continue to sponsor the championship even after his death.

Other dignitaries at the grand finale included President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Ogba, representative of the Sports Minister, Alhasssan Yakmut, Lagos Sports Commissioner, Enitan Oshodi, Principal Senior Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Governor Raji Fashola, Prince Oladunjoye and a host of others.

—Taiwo Adelu