Lagos, Nigeria – Two schools from Lagos have received scholarship awards, cash prizes and trophies after emerging winners at the 2024 Aketi Bowl II National Competition held in Calabar, Cross River State.
Okay News reports that the awards were presented to Ikeja Senior Grammar School in Oshodi and Army Cantonment Girls Senior School in Ojo after they won the male and female categories of the competition.
The prizes were presented by the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA) and the Nigeria Secondary School Flag Football League (NSSFFL).
Each school received a ₦20 million scholarship award, a ₦1 million cash prize and a trophy in recognition of their performance in the tournament.
The presentation ceremony took place at the conference room of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
Speaking during the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, commended NAFA for promoting innovation and sports development among Nigerian students.
He described sports as an important part of education that contributes to students’ physical and mental development and reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to support initiatives that encourage youth participation in sporting activities.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of NAFA, Lawrence Ojaige, praised the impressive performance of the Lagos schools and their achievements in the competition’s third edition.
Ojaige noted that Lagos State had previously won both the male and female categories in the 2023 maiden edition of the competition.
He added that the absence of Lagos schools from the 2025 edition was strongly felt, suggesting that their participation might have influenced the outcome of that tournament.
The NAFA official said the two schools had brought pride to Lagos State through their dedication and performance, adding that their achievements justified the awards presented to them.
He also appealed to state governments across Nigeria to provide greater support for secondary school flag football competitions in the coming years.
