A Cross section of Nigerian Breweries Staff at Kick-Off at the Kick-Off of Maltina School Games 2022 at Iganmu House, Lagos.

Whoosh! We’re literally just trying to catch our breaths after all the intensity, fun and excitement we witnessed at the 2022 edition of the Maltina School Games – Nigeria’s largest Secondary school festival hosted by top malt brand, Maltina.

It has been causing ripples in the high school sports scene of states across the Nation so you can imagine how ecstatic we were to witness it live at the Yaba College of Technology between 9th and 11th March, 2022 at the Lagos State finals.

Students Athletes at Maltina School Games Lagos Final at YABATECH, Lagos

The burning energy in the students, the fire, the outbursts! No Lagos school sports field has ever seen anything like it!

If you missed it (we sure hope you didn’t), we’re here to let you know that you missed some pretty hot stuff.

But we’re here for you.

Student Athlete at Maltina School Games Lagos Final at YABATECH, Lagos

Here are 5 Exciting Things you missed at the Lagos State Maltina School Games Finals:

1. The Sporting Events

Remember our Inter House sport seasons in secondary school, and all the intensity, pomp, fanfare and the hailing that came with each Sporting event? The track races and field events were like our beloved inter house sport seasons sessions – but on a turbo level. The Stakes were higher, the tension great. It was action packed. Each Sport event made spectators full of Anticipation as they watched the proceedings on the field with bated breath. Talk about intensity. The young athletes were certainly hungry and determined, throwing in an enormous amount of passion into every sport event. Spectators and Parents had a lot to cheer at as the young athletes contended vigorously while displaying breathtaking athletic dexterity at a variety of track and field games including 100 and 200m sprint, 400m, 600m and 800m races, 4x100m relay races, long jump, high jump, Javelin and shot put.

We wouldn’t be surprised if we caught the first glimpses of Africa’s next, biggest Olympiad at the Lagos State finals!

      Athlete at Maltina School Games Lagos Final at YABATECH, Lagos

2. The Star Athletes

The event had over 300 schools in attendance with over 60 participating athletes. While all athletes were outstanding, quite a few went above and beyond the bar and quickly became crowd favorites and undisputable champions. Israel Olubunmi from Vega College definitely stood out as a star athlete, making her school proud through what can only be described as a clean sweep, taking up the first place in every single one of the sport events and game sessions she participated in.

Jimoh Abdulramon from International School, Lagos was definitely another shining star as he clinched the gold medal in the 400m race Junior Boys event and the silver medals in the 200m race and long jump events. Mohammed Oluwanifemisola, also from International School Lagos, dominated the Junior Girls category by carting away double gold medals in the 400m race and long jump events and a silver medal in the 200m race.

Similarly, Faith Academy student Daramola Ibukun blazed the trail in the senior boys category, taking the silver medal in the 100m race and clinching the gold medals in the 200m and long jump event respectively.

    A Cross section of Athletes at Maltina School Games Lagos Final at YABATECH, Lagos

3. The Prizes

What’s sports without the big prizes? The Lagos state finals ended with a boatload of prizes – for every participant! Winners in each sport event and session were decorated with medals, and carted home different gifts like sports wears, sport equipment and fabulous branded items. Winners in the broad specified categories each received a whopping cash prize of N500,000 and educational tablets!

4. The Notable Figures who attended

The presence of prominent personalities added verve and zest to the event. Here’s a quick rundown of the big people we spotted; Kola Amusan, Principal International School Lagos, Chidi Egwu, Senior Manager Strategic programs NB Plc, Elohor Olumide Awe, Brand Manager Maltina, Chisom Uroko, Assistant Brand Manager Maltina, Ifeyinwa Madu, Brand Manager Maltina, Kayode Olagesin, MD Towncriers Nigeria Ltd, Mrs Olu Young, Head of Sports Unit Lagos Ministry of Education, Dr. Mrs. Oluwasanmi Oluyomi Olaide, Director of Lagos Directorate of Sports, HRM Daro Jacobs Olutayo, representative of the NSSF president and many others were among the dignitaries who took time out to cheer the young athletes on and took part in friendly races alongside school officials, parents and spectators.

Participating athletes at the Maltina School Games held at YABATECH, Lagos

5. Anticipation for what’s to come.

Maltina has hinted that what we saw at the Lagos State Finals is just a teaser of what we’d experience at the National Finals. If the Lagos State finals were this riveting, then we certainly want more! And more will we get!

School teams that flew high at the Lagos state finals will advance to the next stage and compete against school teams from five other states including Kano, Kaduna, Plateau and Abuja at the upcoming Maltina School Games National finals slated to hold at FCT Mini Stadium, Abuja on the 29th to 31st March, 2022.

All in all, we can certainly say that the third edition of the Maltina School Games is giving the next breed of possible Nigerian olympiads a chance to hinge their abilities on an even greater bar.