By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 26, 2024 (NAN) The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) Sports Carnival will help promote nationhood and social cohesion in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 42 Unity Colleges from across the country slugged it out for honours in 14 sports at this year’s carnival.
Musa told newsmen during the tee-off of the golf tournament at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja on Friday that he was happy to be a product of the Unity Schools, adding that it shaped him into the man he is today.
He said it was exciting to see the caliber of people at the sports carnival, adding that every local government, tribe and religion from across the country was represented which depicts unity in diversity and promotes social cohesion.
“It is a pleasure and a great privilege to be here. Federal Government College, Sokoto gave us platform and the foundation that we are standing on and together I can see the difference we are making all over the country and the world.
“I remain forever grateful for attending a federal government college. The schools are the pride of the nation, although we need to ask if the standards are still being maintained these days.
“If not, what are we doing about it because we benefitted from the system and it will sad for us not to do anything when we are in the position to make a change.
“So, I think it’s good that we do something for the unity schools so that we can bring them back to standard in sports, education and everything the institution represents,” he said.
Michael Magaji, the President General of USOSA told NAN that the golf tournament was integrated into the competition to help strengthen the aging participants.
He noted that the theme for this year’s carnival was “Regniting Unity in Diversity”, adding that the carnival brought together no fewer than 3,000 USOSANS and 2,000 non-USOSANS.
“We are using sports as a tool to showcase unity, nationhood and social cohesion amongst USOSANS and non-USOSANS alike.
“The carnival is part of our “project unite” which covers the health, wellness, careers and different components of living.
“The idea is to situate Nigeria and position sports as a tool to help unite the country,” he said.
Ahmad Hussaini, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, said the idea whole idea of USOSA was borne out of a necessity to save the Unity Schools from being sold by the federal government.
He recalled the during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government there was plan by the then Minister for Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili to sell the unity schools under the government’s privatisation drive at the time.
“So, some of us formed a pressure group and resisted the attempt by the government to sell our unity schools; we were able to buy 95 out of the 110 schools and the pressure group was what metamorphosed into USOSA.
“We went the extra mile to save our federal government colleges from being sold because we were products of these schools and knew what we benefited from them.
“We have members from all over Nigeria. A good number of them are golfers. Sports is also a tool for unification. Sports is a tool for team building. It’s a tool for national building and promoting excellence,” he said.
NAN reports that the Sports Carnival which began on Monday ended on Saturday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
