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By Gabriel Dike
Two whiz kids, eight-year-old Ayomide Aitija of New State Primary School, Mushin, Lagos, and Ayomide Adeniyi of Ijesha Junior Secondary School, Lagos, have been crowned winners of the 2023 Greensprings School Kanu Football Camp.
Aitija and Adeniyi, both from public schools in Lagos State, beat over 200 other pupils in the football camp held at Greensprings School, Lekki, Lagos.
The award ceremony attracted Nigeria’s Olympic football gold medalist, Kanu Nwankwo, two coaches from the Netherlands, coaches from the Lagos State Sports Council, executive director of Greensprings School, Mrs. Layi Koiki, acting director of education, Mrs. Yemi Ojugo, head of admission, Mrs. Oluranti Bankole, PTA chairperson, Mrs. Ekong and many parents.
The full scholarship award was initially meant for one outstanding kid among the over 200 pupils in camp, which went to Aitija, but the panel of judges also recommended Adeniyi because his score was close to winner’s mark.
Greensprings School accepted the recommendation and awarded Adeniyi a full scholarship. The gesture attracted appreciation from the guests and other pupils.
Aitija, who emerged the overall best in the camp told The Education Report that he came prepared to get the scholarship and promised to do well in his education and football.
Said he: “I was expecting to win and bag the scholarship because Greensprings School is one of the best. I am happy to bag the award. I promise to use the scholarship and also improve on my football skills.
“I am so happy to meet Kanu Nwankwo and the foreign coaches. I will take my education and football very seriously. I am looking forward to my education in Greensprings School.”
Adeniyi said he was excited to get a scholarship and pledged not to disappoint his parents, the school management and his coaches.
Adeniyi, who wants to be an engineer, showered encomiums on the school and Kanu Nwankwo for giving him and others the chance to hone their football skills, noting, “I am looking forward to resuming at Greensprings School.”
Nwankwo assured the school that the partnership would continue to produce scholars and future football stars: “The turnout for this year’s camp was impressive. I give credit to Greensprings School for the opportunity given to pupils to showcase their talents. The coaches said this year’s camp is the best.
“The two talents discovered will get full scholarships. Education is important and I know Greensprings School will give them the best of education.
We will expose them to more football skills and also ensure they do well in their education.”
The Head of Admissions, Greensprings School, Mrs. Oluranti Bankole described the 2023 camp as excellent and that the school delivered on its promise.
“We are happy to have two pupils from public school join the Greensprings School. They will be provided learning materials and catered for. We will also ensure they take their football skills to the next level, she explained.
On the second scholarship, she said it was difficult to pick one winner, “we had two good scholars, who did well in the camp. The initial arrangement was for one scholarship but at the end of the camp, Aitija and Adeniyi scores were too close, so the panel recommended to the school for the additional scholarship and it was accepted by the management.”
Technical chairman, Lagos Football Association, Mr. Dotun Coker, lauded the school management for the camp and the award of two scholarships to Aitija and Adeniyi.
Apart from the award of two scholarships, different awards were presented to 11 best pupils based on their performance in the camp.
Since the inception of the camp, Greensprings School has awarded scholarships to 11 pupils and also trained over 2,000 teachers in public and private schools.
