The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), has officially flagged off the 2025 edition of the South-West Basic Education Schools Sports (BESS) Competition. The announcement was made on Monday during a press conference held at LASUBEB’s headquarters in Maryland, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of LASUBEB, Dr. Hakeem Babatunde Shittu, described the BESS competition as a collaborative initiative of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), and the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF).

“We are honoured to host athletes and officials from the six South-West states—Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo,” Dr. Shittu said. “More than 370 pupils will compete in track and field events, football, and board games. This initiative is not just about sports; it is about grooming talent, promoting discipline, teamwork, and healthy competition among our children.”

He noted that the competition is currently open to public schools across the zone, with plans underway by UBEC to include private schools in future editions. Dr. Shittu also assured that adequate accommodation and security arrangements have been made to ensure a safe and enabling environment for all participants.

Commending the synergy between UBEC, SUBEBs, and NSSF, he described the collaboration as a unified effort to foster holistic education for learners. He expressed pride in Lagos State hosting the regional sports meet for the second time. “We are building on the success of previous editions and showcasing our pupils’ sporting excellence—an area where Lagos continues to lead both nationally and internationally,” he stated.

Also speaking at the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, emphasised the transformative role of sports in education.

“As we celebrate the talents of our pupils, we must also recognise the critical impact of sports on their physical, mental, emotional, and social development,” he said.

He revealed that the state has taken strategic steps to integrate sports into formal learning by making Physical and Health Education a core subject in the curriculum. “Sporting activities are no longer regarded as extracurricular but are now integral to the education system in Lagos State,” he affirmed.

The Commissioner urged all participating pupils to embrace the competition not only as a contest but as an opportunity to cultivate values such as teamwork, fairness, discipline, and excellence.

Both officials extended their appreciation to UBEC, Sports Desk Officers, and education stakeholders across the South-West region for their commitment to grassroots sports development.

The week-long competition kicks off with football and board game preliminaries at CMS Grammar School, Bariga, on Tuesday, June 17 and Wednesday, June 18. Track and field events will take place at the Agege Stadium on June 18, while the grand finale, featuring the football final, will hold at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Ground on Thursday, June 19, 2025.