In a bid to encourage child participation in sports, Mrs. Sulagna Majumdar has urged parents to allow their wards engage in the activities, saying it helps build self-esteem amongst other benefits.
Majumdar, who is the principal of Marymount School, made the statement during its 2020 sports day at Upbeat Centre in Lekki Phase1, Lagos State. She described sport as an integral, as well as necessary part of education, whether team based or individual, adding that it is a great activity for children that provides a variety of benefits other than physical fitness. “Participation in sports can help build self-esteem, confidence and social skills. It also helps one to set goals and achieve them,” she said. She noted that spots inculcates a spirit of sportsmanship, develops leadership qualities, team spirit amongst students.
She added: “What is important is not winning but participating, therefore, we organize sports meet where 100 per cent participation is encouraged. “You must remember if you fall behind, run faster, never give up, never surrender and rise up against all odds.”
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of Lekki Peninsular Residents’ Association and Marymount School, Kehinde Otitoju said early exposure of children to sports helps in discovering talents that could later be the pride of the nation as well as provide a means of livelihood. Otitoju added that early sports participation enables healthy development of a growing child and creates happy childhood moments. The competition, which was contested by four houses, ended with Rubby House in fourth place, Amber (third), Sapphire (second), and Emerald in the first position.
