Ibadan school inter-house sports turns festival as parents rock aso ebi

What was meant to be a children’s inter-house sports competition took a striking turn on Thursday as parents at Sunshine Schools, Ibadan, Oyo State, turned the event into a colourful spectacle, appearing in coordinated aso ebi and parading like a cultural festival.

The event, tagged “Sunshine Schools Olympics 2026,” reportedly featured the usual track and field activities for students, but videos circulating online showed parents dressed in coordinated aso ebi in different colours, including yellow, blue and white, as well as other traditional styles, likely representing their respective houses, as they marched and danced in organised groups.

One Instagram user wrote, “Na Ojude Oba be this o”, referencing the famous festival known for its colourful attire and elaborate parades.

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The development sparked a flurry of reactions online, with some users joking about whether the event was for the children or the parents.

An Instagram user, @queenkhalisha2, wrote, “Me I don’t even understand again if the activity is for the kids or parents.”

Another user, @tomiluxuryfabrics, added, “Abeg nah parent dey do inter-house sport abi nah children. Koyemi oooo.”

Typically, inter-house sports in Nigerian schools focus on students competing in track and field events while parents watch from the sidelines, wearing casual or everyday clothes.

However, the emergence of coordinated aso ebi among parents suggests a growing social dimension to the events.

It remains unclear whether the trend will spread to other schools, but the Ibadan event has already triggered conversations about the evolving nature of school social activities in Nigeria.