A healthy body drives a healthy mind – Prof. Akinpelu

Leadership Professor Akin Akinpelu has emphasized the critical role of sports in building a healthy society, highlighting the strong connection between physical fitness and mental development.

Akinpelu made this known during an interview with Sportxvibe.com.ng after presenting a trophy to the Yellow House at the 9th biennial inter-house sports competition of JNISSI schools.

“I think sports are wonderful. In addition to students developing their mental capacity, there is a strong connection between the physical body and the brain. Once you have a healthy body, it can positively influence what happens in the mind. Sports are very important as part of psychomotor development,” he said.

The professor also advised young people to seek holistic growth, highlighting the importance of developing the body, mind and spirit.

“I encourage young people to be total individuals, whether they are total boys or girls, developing their spirit, soul and body. The body is essential because it carries both the soul and the spirit,” he added.

He further called on stakeholders, particularly in the education sector, to invest in sporting activities, noting that such efforts contribute significantly to the well-being of society.

“Everyone who invests in sports, especially in schools, is contributing to building a healthy society. Everything has to do with a healthy society; without healthy people, progress is limited,” he said.

The interior house, theme. “Legends in the Making: Bold Beginnings, Legendary Endings” included a variety of sports activities including taekwondo, sprint races (20m, 50m, 75m and 100m), 200m races, 4x100m relay, bicycle races, duathlon and novel games such as ball collecting, slipper racing and filling the bottle.

In last March’s competition, Olive House emerged the winner with 179 points, followed by Cedar House with 169 points. Palm House placed third with 166 points, while Royal House finished fourth with 164 points.

In the overall medal standings, Purple House took first place with 27 gold, 24 silver and 17 bronze medals. The Red House finished in second place with 27 gold, 21 silver and 16 bronze medals, while the Yellow House came in third place with 20 gold, 16 silver and 31 bronze medals. Green House came in fourth place with 14 gold, 27 silver and 22 bronze medals.

Purple House were subsequently crowned overall winners, capping a competitive and vibrant sporting event at the school.