The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago, and the Managing Director, Lubcon Limited, Mr. Taiye Williams, have said that grass-root sports development was imperative for national sports growth.

They spoke at the finals of the Principal Football Competition for all Secondary Schools in Kwara State on Friday.

The finals featured Ilorin Grammar School and Government Secondary School, Omu-Aran. The match ended 1-1 on regulation time, but GSS emerged as winners after penalties ended 10-9.

Over 250 public and private secondary schools in the state from eight zones participated in the competition.

Onimago, who was represented by Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Lamidi Alabi, said that school competition was necessary to identify budding sport talents.

He stated that the state government would continue to invest in sports development in the state, adding that grass-root competition would promote healthy friendship and sports growth among the participants.

“The competition is desirable for the well being of our pupils because sports and academics complement each other in the total development of an individual,” Onimago said.

Williams said that grassroots sport development would provide an opportunity for sports administrators and clubs to identify talents and nurture them.

He stated that LUBCON invested in the competition as one of its corporate social responsibilities to develop the talents  in many fields of human endeavours including sports.