The Lagos edition of the Loya Milk
Secondary School Swimming Competition season three held last weekend and it
recorded a perfect completion rate, an accomplishment which officials described
as a pointer to the enormous potential of Nigeria in the sport and a boost to
the sponsors - Loya Milk, a premium brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers
of Cowbell Milk, Miksi Milk, Top Tea, Onga and other quality products.
All the participants in the six-event
competition, hosted by Children’s International School, Lekki, completed the
events without the assistance of lifeguards.
David Oyekan, a swimmer and coach at
Meadow Hall School, said the professionalism and speed exhibited by the
contestants was rare among amateurs of their age. He added that they would do
much better if given more attention and training.
Ten schools competed for a total of
18 medals in 25 metres freestyle for boys and girls, 50 metres freestyle for
boys and girls, 100 metres relay for boys and
girls.
The participating schools include
American International School, British International School, Children’s
International School and Chrisland Schools.
Others were Edgewood College, Emerald
High School, Grange School, Greenspring School, Straightgate College and Meadow
Hall School.
British International won two gold,
one silver and two bronze medals; while Children’s International won two gold
and two silver medals.
Edgewood, Greenspring, Grange,
Chrisland, American International and Meadow Hall also featured on the medal
chart.
Reviewing the three-year old
competition, Marketing Manager Promasidor, Biodun Ayodeji said the company
would evaluate the initiative with a view to identifying areas of improvement.
He assured that the company was committed to sustaining the competition.
Ayodeji stated: “We are very
consistent in our strategies. So, we are committed to the success of the
initiative. We started this, two years ago with a single location. We extended
to two locations last year, and this year we are doing four.
“We may maintain the number of
locations next year while reviewing the prizes upwardly. We may also do two
instead of one competition in some locations to give more schools the
opportunity to participate. We will consider other options such as partnering
relevant clubs,” he further said.
Ayodeji explained that Loya Milk is
fortified with 50 percent extra calcium to help consumers achieve optimum
physical wellbeing and build stronger bones, tougher teeth and healthy heart.
He added: “The interest of Loya Milk
in swimming resonates with its unique brand identity. Loya Milk’s unique HiCal
fortification makes it the choice milk for individuals who desire to live
healthy.
The Secretary General of the Nigeria
Aquatics Federation, Sani Mohammed had disclosed during the Abuja competition
that the organisation would partner Loya Milk to identify and nurture young
swimmers.
Mohammed, who lauded the brand for
the initiative and called on other corporate entities to emulate the gesture,
said he had selected some young athletes from the Abuja edition he would
present to the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development for grooming
and inclusion in the national team for future competitions.
Loya Milk Swim Meet was first
organised for 10 schools in Lagos in 2016. Season 2 held in both Lagos and Port
Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, while the just-concluded season 3 was
hosted in Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos.
In addition to the secondary school
swimming competition, Promasidor motivates Nigerian youths through Cowbellpedia
Mathematics TV Show and Promasidor Harness Your Dream, a career guidance
workshop for public secondary schools.
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