Two Badagry Pupils Win Gold, Silver Medals at Southwest Inter-School Sports Competition, Qualify for National Finals

By Goldmark Pentho Dansu  Badagry once again proved its mettle in grassroots education and sports development as two of its primary school ...

By Goldmark Pentho Dansu 

Badagry once again proved its mettle in grassroots education and sports development as two of its primary school pupils emerged top performers at the 2025 South West Geo-Political Zone Basic Education School Sports (BESS) Competition, clinching gold and silver medals in a keenly contested event that drew participants from all six southwestern states of Nigeria.

The competition, which held from June 18 to 19, 2025, at CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, featured hundreds of young athletes from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun States, all showcasing raw talent, sportsmanship, and resilience across various track and field events.

Among the shining stars was Abdulfatai Fathiia, a pupil of Ansarudeen Primary School 2, Araromi-Ale, under the Badagry Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), who clinched Gold in the 400m race, blazing past competitors from across the region to secure the top podium finish. Her performance has earned her a coveted spot on Team Southwest to the National BESS Finals scheduled for later this year.

Also flying the Badagry flag high was Akinbami Precious of St. Leo’s Primary School, Ikoga, who emerged as 2nd overall in the High Jump event, earning her a Silver medal. Like Fathiia, she will also be representing the Southwest at the upcoming national finals.

The victories have sparked a wave of celebration across the Badagry education community. In a congratulatory message, Mr. Wusu Seido Matthew, a member of the BESS Technical Committee from Badagry LGEA, praised the dedication and teamwork of stakeholders across the corridor.

“Hearty congratulations to all education stakeholders in the Badagry corridor—our Education Secretary Alhaja M.A.B. Adebayo, the head teachers Mrs. T. T. Balogun (Ansarudeen Primary School 2) and Mrs. Ekunniyi (St. Leo’s), the zonal coordinators of Araromi and Ikoga, and all the incredible sports officers,” he wrote. “The sacrifice and dedication paid off. I’m super proud of you all.”

The achievement has been described as a testament to the commitment of the Badagry educational leadership to holistic child development through both academics and extracurricular activities.

Community members and leaders in Araromi-Ale and Ikoga Kingdom have also joined in the celebrations, hailing the students as role models and ambassadors of the ancient town’s boundless potential.

As preparations gear up for the National BESS Finals, hopes are high that the young champions will bring further glory not just to Badagry but to the entire Southwest region.

With talents like Fathiia and Precious leading the charge, the future of school sports—and indeed education—in Badagry looks nothing short of golden.