By Roland Ike, Abakaliki
The Commissioner for Youths Development and Sports in Ebonyi State, Richard Idike has said that Gov. Francis Nwifuru’s passion for sports made him approve the ministry’s competition proposals within two days.
Idike made the declaration on Thursday in Abakaliki while inaugurating the organizing committee for the 2023 governor’s football competition scheduled to commence on July 29.
The commissioner noted that such passion exhibited by the governor was the tonic needed for sports revival in the state.
“The governor has also approved the organisation of the school sports competition to return sports to its roots and tap hidden talents.
“The governor who is a youth, believes that youths can use their talents to contribute towards the state’s development.
He noted that talents discovered during the governor’s football competition would be groomed to form the nucleus of the state’s proposed football team.
“I charge the committee to ensure that all the Local Government Areas of the state, participate in the competition to ensure wide reach of the talent discoveries.
“The state government will give you all necessary support to ensure a hitch-free and fruitful competition.
Emmanuel Utobo, the Director of Sports in the state Sports Council thanked the governor for his resolve to revive sports in the state.
“Utobo who is also the chairman of the competition’s organising committee remarked that it was last organised in 2015.
“The committee will do its best to ensure that the aims of oganising the competition were achieved.
“The school sports competition will hold in September when the schools’ new academic session will commence”.
He reiterated his call on athletes to stop seeking greener pastures outside the state as, according to him, opportunities of success have been created in the state.
