Yendi (N/R), Nov 25, GNA - The Nineteenth Edition of Senior High/Technical Schools Annual Northern Region Boys Milo Soccer and Girls Volley ball championship is under way in Yendi Senior High School at Yendi in the Northern Region. In all 31 schools are competing in the Boy Soccer and 28 in the Girls Volley ball. In the open soccer match between the Yendi Senior High School and Bole Senior High School ended goalless. In his keynote address, the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, (MCE), Alhaji Mohammed Habib Tijani said the uniqueness and indispensability of Physical /Education and sports in all meaningful educational programmes cannot be over emphasized, for physical education has a definite and important place in the total education process of the child. Alhaji Tijani stated that education programmes of every school should therefore be very well planned and such programmes should aim at achieving high standards of mental, moral, social and physical fitness. He announced that the health concept of physical education and sports was confirmed by the initiator of the Olympic Games, Baron Piere de Couberth who said "that a national programme of physical training and competitive sports builds stronger and healthier boys and girls and makes them better citizens. He indicated that, it is therefore essential for the schools to have meaningful and well planned physical education programmes which will exert the desired influence on the children's attitude towards sports and physical education for the rest of their lives. Alhaji Tijani said schools and colleges sports are among the most important events in the lives of the students, teachers, workers and many communities. He said the benefits of schools sports with regard to discipline and peace are many and subtle. He said this is why the theme for the competition "Games and Sports recipe for peace and development" is appropriate. The Municipal Chief Executive stated that, the youth have a lot of energies in them which they must use to the benefit of the society instead of bowing down to misuse on violence and destructive activities.

Alhaji Tijani said it is only when they have lasting peace and security for them all that sports can develop and they shall grow to be responsible citizens and better groomed to become tomorrow's leaders. He reminded them that in a few weeks' /time we shall go to the pools to elect a president and parliamentarians, and students and teachers as part of the electorates also have a stake in promoting peace before, during and after elections. In his welcome address, the Yendi Municipal Director of Education, Mr Ziblim Nantogmah said the Nineteenth Edition of the Northern Region Senior High and Technical School Boys Milo Soccer and Girls Volley ball Championship is not only for entertainment and winning laurels for the schools but also to use the occasion to get a representation for the region in boys' soccer and girls' volleyball for a future national competition Mr Ziblim said that sports embody activities that bring people together and also foster unity among different races, nations, institutions and organizations through which people get to know and learn each other's cultures as well. He announced that they might be hearing a lot of positive and negative reports about Yendi and its people and that they should use the occasion to assess the situation in Yendi and know that Yendi is a peaceful Municipality. In his remarks, the Member of Parliament for Yendi Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu who is also the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament said the scope of sports in the Region is limited. Alhaji Yakubu called on Metropolitan, Municipal, District Chief Executives and Members of Parliament for Northern Region to come together to expand sporting activities in the Region. He said lack of sporting facilities is denying the region a number of sporting activities.

He said sports is not for only entertainment but to acquire skills and worth to improve on one's future life to become like the professional sportsmen and women in the other parts of the world. Alhaji Yakubu announced that for the past one week, he has been seriously campaigning in his constituency to solicit votes to win the December polls.