AKASSATO
The Benin government says it is advancing its effort to make sports a key component of education and child development through a pilot initiative known as the Educational and Sports Synergies Project.
According to a government statement, the Ministry of Sports and Civic Engagement, in collaboration with the Ministry of Preschool and Primary Education, organized a large-scale sports and educational event on June 12 in Akassato, bringing together students from participating schools.
The event forms part of the project’s pilot phase, which is currently being implemented in 10 primary schools in the Akassato district of the Atlantique Department in southern Benin.
Officials described it as the first collective gathering of students from participating schools after several months of school-based activities, training workshops and awareness sessions for educators and program facilitators.
Launched in 2024, the Educational and Sports Synergies Project aims to support several aspects of child development, according to the government.
These include strengthening psychomotor skills such as agility, coordination, and balance; enhancing cognitive abilities, including memory, attention and concentration; and developing social skills through teamwork, respect for rules, and community living.
At the opening ceremony, Cabinet Director Crépin Okouolou, speaking on behalf of the minister of sports and civic engagement, said the project goes beyond recreation.
According to the statement, Okouolou said the initiative aligns with the government’s vision of using sports as a tool for social development, inclusion and early talent identification.
During the event, students participated in basic motor-skills activities before being introduced to several sports included in the program, including basketball, wrestling, badminton and table tennis.
Officials said the activities were organized as educational games and supervised competitions, allowing students to apply skills developed in their schools under the guidance of teachers and technical instructors.
Following the pilot phase in Akassato, the government said it plans to gradually expand the Educational and Sports Synergies Project nationwide, aiming to reach all 77 municipalities in Benin.
