Okesuna Senior High School has emerged victorious amongst four Lagos-based secondary schools that competed for the Remi Olowude Cup in the inaugural Support Bridges Initiative (SBI) Football Competition, organized by SBI, a non-governmental organisation partnering with the visionary administration of His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN to restore the pride and glory of public schools in Lagos State.

The competition was organised as part of activities marking SBI’s 6^th Anniversary.

In the final played on Friday at the football pitch of Epetedo High School in Lagos Island, Okesuna Senior High School defeated Tom Caleb High School (an SBI partner school) by 4-3 penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw at full time. Ireti Senior Grammar School had earlier beaten Isale Eko Senior Grammar School by 5-4 penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 stalemate to win the third position.

The giant trophy won by Okesuna Senior High School was donated by the sports-loving Executive Vice Chairman of Industrial And General Insurance (IGI) Plc, Mr Remi Olowude, OON, who took the ceremonial kick-off during the final round of matches.

According to Mrs Folasade Adetiba, Chief Executive Officer of SBI, the football competition will be an annual event to be contested for the next three years amongst the SBI pilot schools in Education District III as part of the NGO’s youth empowerment and leadership project. “Already, SBI intervenes by providing subject remedial classes as well as improving the communication skills of the students. Knowing however, that sports play a key role in developing team building and leadership skills, SBI decided to add the competition to its annual activities since the students are really passionate about football.”

She thanked Mr Olowude (a patron of SBI since inception), for giving massive support to SBI activities and donating the trophy, noting that the IGI boss is well noted for his enthusiasm for sports, education and youth development in Nigeria.

Pix 1: Executive Vice Chairman, Industrial And General Insurance (IGI) Plc, Mr Remi Olowude, being introduced to players of Ireti Senior Grammar School during the final round of matches of the Support Bridges Initiative (SBI) Football Competition.

Pix 2: Executive Vice Chairman, Industrial And General Insurance  (IGI) Plc, Mr Remi Olowude (back row, 4^th left), Mrs Sade Adetiba, CEO, Support Bridges Initiative (back row, centre) and  Mrs Yinka Ogunde, CEO, Edumark Consult (back row, 4^th right) with players and officials of  Isale Eko Senior Grammar School during the final round of matches of the SBI Football Competition.