FG to Partner A/Ibom on Grassroots Sport Development

The Federal Government says it will collaborate with the Akwa Ibom state Government as worthy partner to fish out the hidden talents among the youth for future engagement.

Minister for Sport Mr. Solomon Dalung  gave  the indication  in Uyo at  the maiden edition of the Akwa Ibom Youth Sports Festival 2017 for primary and secondary schools in the state held at  Godswill Akpabio  International Stadium.

He stressed that on his assumption of duty as Minister of Sports he emphasized the need to resuscitate grassroots sport and adopt bottom to top approach to sport development in the country.

“I am happy that Akwa Ibom State Government has taken the lead in grassroots sport development”, he said, noting that sport is the second highest money spinning venture in the world after ICT.

“As you are aware President Muhammadu Buhari is also sport friendly. Since I assumed office he has given the necessary support to sport as expected” he said, adding that with the President disposition to the initiate of the Governor Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom State is repositioning itself to lead Nigeria in sport.

The Sports Minister commended Governor Mr, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom   for keying into the Federal Government vision of developing sport at the grassroots and called on the people to assist in bringing the best out of the youths through sport..

Akwa Ibom State Governor,  Mr. Udom Emmanuel while declaring open the festival,  said that the poor performance of Nigerian athletes at international sport championships informed his decision to initiate the Akwa Ibom Youth Sports Festival for talent hunt.

According to him, what first threw the challenge on him to arrange the youth sports festival in the state stated with the poor performance of the country in the African cup of nation and the last International Olympic in Brazil.

“We are taking that challenge that as a country never again should Nigeria, the most populous black nation of the entire universe be missing in the cup of nation.

“A country of over 170 million people at any point in time should be able to produce over 20 footballers. So we are taking the initiative to catch them young and to represent this country in future sporting events.

“Our second challenge come from the last Olympic in Brazil. You will see a country with a population of 3 million people wining series of gold medals in the last Olympic and we come back with only bronze medal.