Sports Festival Won’t Disrupt Primary, Secondary Schools’ Academic Calendar – Edo Govt

The Edo State government has assured residents that the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival will not disrupt the academic calendar of primary and secondary schools in the state in any way.

Mr Osarodion Ogie, who is the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), gave the assurance in a statement on Monday.

He urged residents to disregard information that was being circulated that the academic activities in the schools had been adjusted on account of the sports festival.

“The activities of the festival do not in any way affect the school calendar. Management of schools, both public and private, parents and pupils are to adhere to the calendar earlier released, upon which they have been conducting their activities and disregard any contrary information,” the SSG said.

He added, “Primary and secondary schools are to go on the Easter break on Friday, April 2nd, and resume on Tuesday, April 6th.

“The second term examination holds from April 26th to 29th. The schools are to go on vacation on April 30th and resume for third term on May 10th.”

The clarification by the state government came two days after it met with the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development where some guidelines were agreed upon for the National Sports Festival.

See the guidelines which were signed by the Edo State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Philip Shaibu, below:

MOC has decided that all athletes/officials from the 35 states and the FCT, participating in the National Sports Festival must take COVID-19 tests 72 hours before arrival for the tournament.

All athletes/officials are to take the COVID-19 vaccine at least 12 days before arrival for the tournament.

The Games Village is to open on April 2, 2021, for athletes/officials.

Athletes/officials are to present certificates and documentation of COVID-19 tests and vaccination before they can be admitted into the Games Villages in the state.

The torch of unity will arrive in Edo State on April 3 and will go round the 18 local governments in the state. It will arrive at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium main bowl on April 6, where the governor would light it up.

In line with COVID-19 protocol, the number of athletes and officials expected to participate in the games has been reduced from 14,000 to 8,000 participants.

Officials of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will arrive in Benin City four days to the commencement of the festival, to monitor compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.

All the non-pharmaceutical measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 will be provided by the state government at the various venues and camps.

Attendance at the games is strictly regulated, and the general public is advised to follow the activities across media platforms, including social platforms, as it will be streamed live.

The State Government and the Ministry have agreed that the tagline for the games remains ‘Edo 2020’, despite the postponement occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Government and the Ministry have agreed that Nigeria’s contingent for the Olympics would be camped in the state for preparation for the games, to take advantage of the world-class equipment and facilities in the state.