By The popular axiom “catch them young” speaks about the urge to guide and support children in their early ages, and by extension, stresses the need for concerted efforts in raising the next set of responsible adults who will contribute to national development.
This aptly describes what the Lagos Sports Summer Camp, an initiative of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), stands for.
Designed for pre-teens between ages 9-14, the camp keeps the campers in a secured and conducive environment with caring and experienced camp counselors to guide them throughout.
“The Lagos Sports Summer Camp is borne out of the need to design a conducive environment where kids come together to develop a sense of independence as they try new adventures away from home. The camp will further help the participants gain self-confidence as they engage in both academics, sporting activities and to learn new life-skills,” the camp’s official website said.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Toyin Gafaar Bolowotan, said, “Our goal is to discover the inbuilt talents in our kids particularly in sports, and craftsmanship. We believe that beyond academics, they have the potentials to be the best at whatever they choose to do.”
Bolowotan told BlackBox Nigeria that the project is inspired by Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whom he described as a lover of children and sports.
In the last three weeks, no fewer than 360 children have been camped in three different locations across the three senatorial districts in the State, for the Camp’s second edition.
The life-changing weeklong experience constitutes 60 per cent of sports and 40 per cent of life skills.
The sports include athletics, basketball, board games — such as chess, monopoly, scrabble — Ayo, darts, volleyball and fives. For life skills, campers are exposed to tie and dye, hat making, tile and brick making, power bank and power bank battery making, among others.
Scott Ikporo, the Camp Manager, said STEM was introduced into this year’s camp to introduce the campers to the new wave of technology.
“We make sure by the closing date, each camper goes home with a power bank made by themselves,” he said.
Ikporo noted that the board games help campers develop their critical thinking skills. Using Monopoly as an example, he said the game teaches them finances and how to manage funds right from their tender ages.
He added, “Through the camp, talents will be discovered, and the State government will help manage those talents through the readymade programmes and initiatives.”
The Badagry Camp, hosted at the Badagry Grammar School for the Lagos West Senatorial District, opened on August 15 and closed August 21. About 120 students, drawn from public and private schools, took part.
Oriwu College in Ikorodu played host to another set of 120 campers, for the Lagos East Edition, between August 29 and September 4.
The final phase, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, is currently holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere. It is billed to hold between September 5 and 12.
Awosanya Ibrahim, a participant at the Surelere Camp, expressed his excitement about the camp while speaking with BlackBox Nigeria.
“It’s been fun and interesting. I’ve learnt to try new things that I’ve never done before. All thanks to the camp, I’ve learnt taekwondo which I hope to take up professionally,” said the 13-year-old.
For Omoniyi Amanda, another 13-year-old, the camp has taught her discipline.
The ecstatic teenager said, “I’m used to waking up late but here at the camp, we wake up early. Staying with other people has helped me make new friends. It also helped me to learn to follow my interests.”
