A Professor of Leadership Akin Akinpelu has emphasized the critical role of sports in building a healthy society, highlighting the strong connection between physical fitness and mental development.
Akinpelu made this known during an interview with Sportxvibe.com.ng after presenting a trophy to Yellow House at the 9th Biennial Inter-House Sports competition of JNISSI Schools.
“I think sports are so amazing. Apart from students developing their mental capacity, there is a strong connection between the physical body and the brain. Once you have a healthy body, it can positively influence what happens in the mind. Sport is very important as part of psychomotor development,” he said.
The professor also advised young people to pursue holistic growth, stressing the importance of developing the body, mind, and spirit.
“I would encourage young people to be total individuals — whether a total boy or girl — by developing their spirit, soul, and body. The body is essential because it carries both the soul and the spirit,” he added.
He further called on stakeholders, particularly in the education sector, to invest in sporting activities, noting that such efforts contribute significantly to societal well-being.
“Everyone who invests in sports, especially in schools, is contributing to building a healthy society. Everything is about a healthy society; without healthy people, progress is limited,” he said.
The inter-house, themed “Legends in the Making: Bold Beginnings, Legendary Endings,” featured a variety of sporting activities including taekwondo, sprint races (20m, 50m, 75m, and 100m), 200m race, 4x100m relay, bicycle race, duathlon, and novelty games such as picking the balls, slippers race, and filling the bottle.
In the march past competition, Olive House emerged winner with 179 points, followed by Cedar House with 169 points. Palm House placed third with 166 points, while Royal House finished fourth with 164 points.
In the overall medal standings, Purple House clinched first position with 27 gold, 24 silver, and 17 bronze medals. Red House finished second with 27 gold, 21 silver, and 16 bronze medals, while Yellow House placed third with 20 gold, 16 silver, and 31 bronze medals. Green House came fourth with 14 gold, 27 silver, and 22 bronze medals.
Purple House was subsequently crowned overall winner, capping a competitive and vibrant sporting event at the school.