FCT-UBEB SCHOOLS WIN NATIONAL TABLE TENNIS TITLE IN BAUCHI

By: Hauwa Mahmud Madugu

Students representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have emerged champions in Table Tennis at the recently concluded Basic Education School Sports (BESS) Competition held in Bauchi State, outperforming teams from all 36 states of the federation.

Leading the outstanding performance was Abdulmalik Taufeek, a student of Junior Secondary School (JSS) Area 10, who was named the Best Table Tennis Player of the competition after winning two gold medals and one silver medal. Ibrahim Muhammed of JSS Durumi 2 followed as the second-best player with one gold and one silver medal, while Adnan Taufeek, also from JSS Area 10, secured third place with a bronze medal.

The FCT-UBEB team also performed strongly in other categories. In the girls’ table tennis event, the team finished in second place, while the volleyball team claimed third position, showcasing the students’ versatility and competitive spirit across multiple sports.

Overall, the FCT team finished fourth on the national medal table among the 36 participating states.

During the official presentation of medals and awards at the Education Secretariat, the Mandate Secretary, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, praised the students for their exceptional achievements and emphasized the importance of sports in complementing academic success. He reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to supporting sports development among students in the FCT.

“We are proud of you all for becoming young champions in the federation,” he said. “The Secretariat will continue to provide the necessary support to ensure that sports activities in the FCT grow stronger. We will also ensure speedy approval of such events to motivate and encourage our young talents.”

The Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, expressed appreciation to the Mandate Secretary for approving the team’s participation in the competition, noting that the timely support contributed significantly to the team’s success.

As part of the celebration, medals were also presented to the Mandate Secretary and the Permanent Secretary in recognition of their commitment to promoting sports development in the FCT.

The event was attended by management staff of the Education Secretariat, the FCT-UBEB Sports Desk Officer, Mr. Oniwon Franklin Onimisi, and the Assistant Director of Sports, Mrs. Lami Tanko, along with the young medalists from JSS Area 10 and JSS Durumi 2.

Students who represented the FCT in the volleyball competition included John Favour, Benedict Faith, Joyce Okongwu, Michelle Ajayi, and Tabitha Abioye from JSS Gbanzanko Kubwa, as well as Zeenat Oyiza and Rahma Oyiza from JSS Jabi.