LAGOS, NIGERIA — Hundreds of students from across Lagos State recently gathered to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace at the 5th edition of the Sports Global Ambassadors (SGA) program. Organized by Carmel Academy, the event centered on the critical global theme: “Climate Refugees: The Immigration Crisis.”

The multi-day initiativea successfully combined athletic competition with intellectual diplomacy to nurture the next generation of civic leaders.

Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer of Carmel Academy, Mrs. Ndidi Edeoghon—affectionately known as Coach DiDi—emphasized the intrinsic link between sports and leadership. She explained that the program was born out of the realization that a good sportsperson makes a good leader, stressing the need to intentionally groom ambassadors who possess both sports skills and robust leadership acumen.

The three-day event officially commenced with a vibrant opening ceremony hosted by the British International School (BIS) in Oniru. The program featured an array of notable guest speakers who inspired over 200 student delegates as they participated in a Model United Nations (MUN) simulation. Working across four distinct committees, the delegates debated pressing global issues surrounding climate migration before passing comprehensive resolutions in the General Assembly.

Alongside the diplomatic debates, the athletic segment of the program—also hosted at BIS, Oniru—featured more than 300 participants from 10 different schools. The students competed fiercely across 32 individual and team events, including athletics, swimming, board games, and basketball.

In the highly competitive sports categories, British International School claimed the gold medal in the female division, followed by Vivian Fowler Memorial College in second place and Atlantic Hall School in third. Meanwhile, the male category saw Atlantic Hall School secure the first-place trophy, with Whitesands School emerging second and Dowen College taking home the bronze.

The program reached its climax at a grand awards ceremony hosted by The Riverbank School, Oniru. The event brought together the MUN delegates and sports medalists to celebrate their achievements and announce the top three overall Sports Global Ambassadors.

Navya Nama from the British International School clinched the prestigious first-place position. Kingston Ifiabor of Whitesands School secured second place, while Olufunmilayo Adelana from The Lagoon School finished third. In recognition of their outstanding leadership and athletic excellence, all three SGA winners were awarded cash prizes and will be introduced to exclusive internship opportunities to further guide them on their path to becoming global leaders.