The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Hon Minister of Youth and sports Mr Solomon Dalung believe that the future of our sports lie in grassroots development.
Yesterday at the magnificent Godswill Akpabio International Stadium over 20,000 students were present to watch the commencement of the first ever Akwa Ibom State Youth Festival declared Open by the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State Mr Udom Emmanuel with the sports Minister as Special Guest of Honour
Governor Udom charged the students to see the competition as a common spring board to fame and a brighter future, while the sports minister commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for leading other states of the Federation in what will determine the future sports fame of the country. Saying it is only investment in the youth that will make him miss a top flight match in London involving the Super Eagles of Nigeria, the Minister promised to do everything in his power to help Akwa Ibom sustain “ this laudable and far reaching project”
Governor Udom Emmanuel in his speech , said by exposing the students to the best sporting facilities at an early age, his administration was giving them wings to soar to greater heights.
This, Mr. Emmanuel, said gave rise to his establishment of sporting centres in each of the ten Federal constituencies of the State, of which one has been completed in Itu and another nearing completion in Eket federal constituency.
He said his “administration sees sports development as a valuable gift to our children and youths,” and urged “participants to endeavour to make maximum use of this opportunity, and make it a visa to the land of stardom.”
Emmanuel who called for more attention to the business side of sports, said sports in the today’s world was a goldmine and not mere entertainment.
“Beyond the story of this festival, our youths should be launched to the glory of the money-spinning venture of sports,” he asserted.
Governor Emmanuel who was accompanied by the State’s first lady, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel posited that, the secret of world sports stars, “is hidden, first and foremost, in early exposure to world-class facilities particularly at an early age.”
He lamented the poor run of the country in the last Olympics and the nonparticipation of the national soccer team in the recent African Cup of Nations, and promised to raise stars to lead Nigeria back to glory ways in global sports.
Emmanuel thanked the Minister of Sports for his readiness to support the state in grassroot sport development, praying that “this( efforts) be a feeder to our national teams in the future and make us retake our rightful place in different sports”
The Opening ceremony featured invitation relay, March past of the participating teams, calisthenics display, oath taking ceremony and the lighting of the Festival torch by national and commonwealth sprints sensation Miss Aniekeme Alphonsus.
The week long event featuring competitions in 20 sports at secondary and primary school level will end on sunday March 22.