*As At-Tanzeel Schools celebrates first successful inter-house sports competition
The Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, has called on schools and education stakeholders to invest in sports development to create an enabling environment for the active participation and holistic growth of students.
Dr. Abdul made the call at the maiden edition of the At-Tanzeel Schools Inter-House Sports Competition, held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the YABATECH Sports Complex, Lagos.
Muslim News gathered that the competition, which lasted several hours, featured various sporting activities including 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m races, 4x100m and 4x400m relays, as well as long jump, while primary school pupils also took part in activities such as treasure hunt and egg-and-spoon race to ensure inclusiveness.
Mukadam Lawal (Green) House tops medals table
At the end of the keenly contested event, Alhaji Abdul-Rouf Mukadam Lawal (Green) House emerged overall winner after topping the medals table with 23 gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze medals, totalling 52 medals.
First Adequate (Yellow) House finished second with 23 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze medals, recording 45 medals, while Akmodel Group (Purple) House placed third despite also winning 52 medals, after securing fewer gold medals—11 gold, 25 silver and 16 bronze.
Infonomics (Orange) House came fourth with nine gold, 19 silver and 18 bronze medals, for an overall total of 46 medals, rounding off a highly competitive outing.
…urges schools to promote sportsmanship
Describing the event as excellent, the Rector who served as the host, said the joy and enthusiasm displayed by students and parents underscored the importance of sports in child development.
“This programme is an excellent one. I can see the joy in the students and parents,” he said, adding, “An all-round development for our children is very important, and the children are highly interested and motivated in both their physical and academic development.”
Dr. Abdul noted that beyond physical fitness, inter-house sports help instil values such as sportsmanship, teamwork and leadership in children, while praising the strong involvement of parents and other stakeholders.
“What was displayed today was not a day’s job. It was achieved through the collective efforts of parents, teachers, school management and the students themselves,” he said, stressing that such values give hope for the nation’s future.
He also stressed the need to integrate sports into school curricula and provide adequate facilities within school premises to support talent development.
“We need to be intentional by making the necessary facilities available and encouraging students to participate actively in sports,” he added.
Invited schools shine in relay races
Five invited schools recorded notable performances in both boys’ and girls’ relay races during the tournament with Warmy International School finished first in the boys’ category, while Whitesands School came second and Landmark College placed third.
For the girls’ relay race, Landmark College emerged winners, followed by Crescent Schools in second position and Nurul-Islam School in third place. Warmy International School finished fourth in the girls’ category.
Chairman calls for discipline, sportsmanship
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the School, Mr. Saheed Bashir, FCA, FCS, called on students, parents, staff, and participating schools to embrace the values of discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Mr. Bashir described the historic occasion as a significant milestone in the 16-year history of At-Tanzeel Schools, highlighting the role of sports in promoting holistic education.
According to him, “This historic occasion represents a significant milestone in the journey of At-Tanzeel Schools. As an institution committed to holistic education, we are deliberate in nurturing learners who are confident, responsible, resilient, reflective, and globally engaged, while remaining firmly rooted in strong Islamic ethos.”
The Chairman noted that sports and physical education are essential to the school’s vision, fostering teamwork, discipline, leadership, resilience, respect for diversity, and healthy competition.
He referenced the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on physical fitness and strength, ‘A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer’, emphasizing the alignment between Islamic values and modern sports education.
Mr. Bashir also extended appreciation to the school’s sponsoring parents and corporate partners, whose support made the event possible. He specifically recognised the contributions of the families behind each competing house.
“These noble gestures reflect the true spirit of partnership between home and school and stand as inspiring examples of collective responsibility in nurturing excellence, character, and confidence in our children,” he said.
Addressing students and representatives from invited schools, Mr. Bashir encouraged participants to uphold fair play, humility, perseverance, and respect, emphasizing that true success lies not merely in winning medals, but in character, effort, and conduct, in line with both global best practices and Islamic teachings.
“You are all champions,” At-Tanzeel Head tells student-athletes
The Head of At-Tanzeel Schools, Mr. Hakeem Bolaji Isioye described the event as a platform to discover and nurture new talents in sports, emphasizing that the school’s ethos is built on a tripod of Islamic values, academic excellence, and talent discovery.
“Our sustained success is a testament to being intentional in everything we do. Recently, Ziyaadah Lawal won first runner-up in the Fobally Art Competition (2025), while Aisha Dosunmu secured second runner-up at the Gloria Babarinde Public Speaking Competition (2025).
These achievements show that we do not limit learning to the classroom but prepare learners for global competitiveness,” he said.
He encouraged all student-athletes to give their best in the competition, stressing that everyone is a winner through participation.
“We celebrate all athletes participating in the competition. You are all colleagues in sports but not competitors. You are all champions worthy of celebration. Give your best and rely on Allah for the rest,” he added.
Sports Coordinator: It took us three years to plan
The Sports Coordinator, Mr. Ademola Quam Elebute, revealed the school spent about three years planning the event, including proposal writing, sourcing sponsors, and learning from other schools’ inter-house sports programs.
“As the first edition of this inter-house sports, it was overwhelming, but it was something I had wanted for a long time,” Elebute said. “After so much planning, I am happy we were able to achieve it. With the results we had today, all the stress has been taken away.”
According to Elebute, the school spent about three years planning the event, including proposal writing, sourcing for sponsors and understudying other schools’ inter-house sports competitions.
“We learnt from other schools and today we can rate ourselves 80 per cent. We know we can always do better,” he added.
He further described inter-house sports as a platform for discovering talents, noting that some pupils who may not excel academically often perform exceptionally well in sports.
“There are learners who may not be 100 per cent in class, but in sports, they are doing wonderfully well,” he said, citing instances where academically inclined pupils also excelled on the field.
Sports vital for health, says House owner
Abdul Rasheed Ogunsanya, representing the owner of the Infonomics House, described sports as essential for physical and mental wellbeing, praising At-Tanzeel Schools for organising its maiden inter-house sports competition.
“The reason we are doing this is because sport is good for our body as adults, not to talk of children. Engaging in sporting activities and regular exercise reduces the chances of developing different kinds of diseases and also helps relieve stress,” Ogunsanya said.
He expressed hope that sporting activities in Nigeria would continue to improve and commended At-Tanzeel Schools for its efforts in nurturing students.
At-Tanzeel Sports Prefects stress importance of sports in holistic education
Speaking on behalf of the entire student body, the male and female Sports Prefects of the school underscored the importance of sports development as a critical pillar of holistic education, stressing that physical activities complement academic learning rather than distract from it.
The male Sports Prefect, Mubarak Babalola said students had always shown strong interest and talent in sports, noting that the major challenge in the past was the availability of facilities and sustained support.
According to him, At-Tanzeel Schools has, from inception, produced naturally gifted athletes, including fast runners, skilled footballers and pupils excelling in indoor games, but limited equipment previously hindered the full development of such talents.
He said the situation began to improve following deliberate interventions by the school management.
He recalled that a major turning point came under the leadership of a former Head of Sports, who introduced structured sporting houses and provided kits that strengthened students’ sense of identity and belonging.
Babalola added that the current Sports Coordinator, working with prefects, senior students and teachers, built on that foundation to successfully plan and deliver the school’s first-ever inter-house sports competition.
The male prefect emphasised that sports help instil discipline, teamwork, resilience and leadership, adding that many global leaders discovered their potential through sports rather than solely in classrooms.
Also speaking, the female Sports Prefect, Maryam Ashiru-Mobolaji, recounted the transformation of sports activities in the school, noting that there was a time when sporting opportunities were minimal and participation was limited to a few students, leaving many talents undiscovered.
She said the year 2022 marked a revival of sporting activities with the organisation of a modest inter-house competition within the school premises, an event she described as a catalyst that rekindled students’ interest in sports, particularly among female learners.
According to her, that initial effort gradually evolved into a broader vision following formal engagement with school management and the appointment of new prefects.
She explained that with the support of the Board of Directors, school management, teachers and parents, planning began for a larger and more impactful sports programme.
Despite challenges relating to venue selection, logistics and timing, she said teamwork and determination ensured success, describing the hosting of the competition at the YABATECH Sports Complex as a historic milestone for the school.
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