The 2025 edition of the Enugu State Secondary Schools finals officially commenced yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, with over 3,000 students from different schools across the state competing in various disciplines.
The competition which will run till August, 10, is put together by the Enugu State Ministry for Youth and Sports Development in collaboration with the Post Primary School Management Board, PPSMB, is aimed at identifying talents that can be nurtured to stardom.
The competing schools which are domicile in six zones comprising of Enugu, Awgu, Udi, Nsukka, Agbani, Obolafor, will be vying for honors in nine events which include Football, Volleyball, Athletics (Track and Field), Basketball, Table Tennis, Boxing, Chess, Scrabble and Tennis (Junior and Senior Cadre).
According to the program schedule which was made available to newsmen, day one witnessed arrival of the schools, as well as documentation, accreditation and screening exercise for the participants.
The track and field events really lived up to expectations, just as the finals for shot-put, 800 meters and 400 meters heats for both boys and girls were concluded today.
15 year-old Eze Happiness (Enugu Zone) crossed the finish line in a time of 2:36 seconds, ahead of Ugwuoke Joy (GHS, Agwu Zone) and Uzochi Nmesoma (SEDSS, Udi Zone) in 2:39 seconds and 2:49 seconds who placed second and third respectively the girls category.
In the boys category, Nome Francis (OHS, Agbani Zone) won the race in a time of 2:12 seconds, while Oguji Abuchi (ESS, Nsukka Zone) and Obute Kenechukwu (DSS, Nsukka) returned in the second and third positions with a time of 2:14 seconds and 2:15 seconds respectively.
Also in the shot-put event for girls, it was another 15 year-old, Eziasa Jane (Nsukka Zone) emerged tops with a throw of 8:20 meters, while Ugwu Perpetual (Nsukka Zone) and Odenigno Ugochi (Enugu Zone) were placed second and third with 7:26 meters and 7:24 meters.
Ukaha Chibuzor (Udi Zone) won the event in the boys category, with a throw of 13;60 meters, defeating Nwajiobi Samuel (Enugu Zone) and Iyioke Paschal (Nsukka Zone) who finished second and third with 13:35 meters and 13:30 meters.
The football event which was also held yesterday, saw a disjointed Udi Zone which could not curtail the physicality of Agbani Zone, as they lost 3-0 in the first game, while the second game saw an enterprising and formidable, Nsukka Zone thrashed an uncoordinated Obolafor Zone 7-0.
