In an exciting climax to a day of youthful talent and competition, Atlantic Hall has been crowned the champion of the 2025 ALTECS U-17 Secondary School Football Competition. The team secured the victory by defeating their rivals, the British International School Lagos (BIS), with a solitary goal in the final match.
A Platform for Talent and Education
The tournament, which took place on November 25, 2025, at Greensprings School in the Lekki area of Lagos, was sponsored by All Things Education Consultants (ALTECS) UK. This 11-a-side competition was specifically designed to promote youth talent, education, and sporting excellence among Nigerian students.
The one-day event brought together eight prominent schools, including Dowen College, Corona School, International School Lagos, and Caleb School, creating a vibrant and competitive atmosphere. Organizers described the tournament as a successful fusion of education, opportunity, and sports development.
Opening International Pathways for Students
Speaking with the press, Johnson Agogo, a representative for ALTECS UK, explained the core mission behind the initiative. "Our priority is education, but we added sports to identify talented students and possibly create international pathways for them," Agogo stated. He emphasized that this was their first sports edition and promised that future tournaments would involve more sponsors and UK partners to deliver a bigger and better programme.
Agogo was firm on the initiative's academic focus, noting, "We don't encourage any student to abandon school. What we promote is combining education with sports so they can pursue both in the UK and around the globe." This sentiment was echoed by the event’s Sports Coordinator, Coach Joseph Duruihuoma, who confirmed the competition was strictly for students under the age of 17.
Grassroots Development and Future Prospects
The tournament received praise from former national swimming athlete and sports administrator, Wemimo Raje. She applauded the organizers for effectively linking sports and academics, calling it "grassroots development." Raje noted, "Sports is no longer for dropouts, education and sports must go together, and ALTECS understands that synergy." She did, however, criticize the over-concentration on football in Nigeria while neglecting other sports.
The excitement was also palpable among the young participants. One of the standout players, 14-year-old Eli Nwachukwu from the British International School, shared his aspirations: "I'd love to play professional football. If a UK scholarship comes through ALTECS, it would be a great opportunity."
With grassroots sports often struggling for support in Nigeria, the intervention by ALTECS UK has opened a new channel for students to chase academic excellence while nurturing their athletic dreams. Organizers have affirmed that the next edition will be expanded to include more schools, sponsors, and partnerships with UK-based academies.
