Lagos: No fewer than 150 Lagos public primary school physical education teachers and games masters received Olympic values education training to promote excellence, respect, and friendship among young pupils. President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph, stated that Lagos was the fifth state to host the programme, following Plateau, Ogun, Bayelsa, and Kano states.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the programme, which began on Wednesday, was organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), supported by Olympic Solidarity, and implemented in partnership with the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB). The programme introduces participants to the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), which uses sport and education to foster positive character development.
Joseph urged participants to maximise the opportunity and apply the lessons in their classrooms and sporting activities. ‘We want you to learn and unlearn
so that you can adequately transfer these values to the children under your care,’ she said.
NOC President, Habu Gumel, represented by OVEP Coordinator, Kemi Obidahunsi, remarked that the programme was designed to nurture integrity, respect, and holistic development among learners. ‘OVEP is based on the Olympic philosophy that learning takes place through the balanced development of body and mind,’ he said. The programme adopts the Olympic values of excellence and friendship, encouraging participants to apply them across all areas of life.
The Lead facilitator of the programme, Prof. Clement Fasan, noted that the initiative would help teachers instil positive values while identifying and developing sporting talents at the grassroots level. Fasan, a Professor of Sports Management at Lagos State University (LASU), emphasized that schools remained critical platforms for discovering future athletes and shaping responsible citizens.
LASUBEB Executive Chairman, Dr. Hakeem Shittu, commended the NSSF and NOC for s
electing Lagos as one of the host states. Shittu stated that the programme aligned with the state’s goal of producing learners who are academically sound, morally upright, and socially responsible. ‘OVEP is particularly significant because it combines sports with the timeless values of excellence, friendship, and respect,’ he said.
He added that the partnership would strengthen teachers’ competencies, enhance talent discovery, and contribute to future sporting success. ‘Through this partnership, we are strengthening teacher competencies, creating pathways for talent discovery, and laying the foundation for future sporting excellence,’ he said. Shittu encouraged participants to fully engage with the training and reaffirmed LASUBEB’s commitment to teacher development and the holistic growth of children across the state.