Sports
NYG: RSG Charges Athletes On Performance, Discipline
The Rivers State Government under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike has charged the state’s contingent to the 2021 National Youth Games, NYG, scheduled to begin today in Ilorin, Kwara State, to be good ambassadors of the state and bring home many medals as they can.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Sports, Hon Boma Iyaye, while speaking to the athletes in their camp at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex, Port Harcourt on Friday, told them that they should bear in mind that they would be flying the flag of the state at the games and must comport themselves immaculately.
“You are representing Rivers State and not your schools and a lot is expected from you. When you get to Ilorin, the way you walk, talk and do everything is very important, you must be good ambassadors of the state because our state is a wonderful state. Bad behaviour, indiscipline, stealing and others would not be tolerated”, said Iyaye.
He also told the athletes that the state wanted to excel at the Games and expect them to put in their best efforts to ensure that Rivers finishes tops at the fiesta.
According to him, “All that is needed for you to do well has been provided by the state government, from camping to the games proper, so, there would be no excuse, we want to come out tops.”
He further challenged the athletes to bring glory to the state and see what the sports-loving governor would do for them. “You have a lot to gain from this experience. Sports can take you to great heights anywhere in the world, education is very important but sports can guarantee you good career opportunities. I encourage you to go to Ilorin and bring back the medals, give us your best and see what follows”.
The commissioner had earlier expressed happiness at the youthfulness of the athletes and the fact that they started early preparation. He was also thankful to the parents of the athletes for releasing their children, their trust and belief in the state government to take good care of the children. He assured that the contingent would be provided with comfort and security all the time, to and from the games.
Iyaye used the opportunity to also acknowledge Governor Wike for providing all that was needed for the Games. “I thank the governor for providing funds early for this games. We have everything we need and there’s no excuse not to perform”, he stated.
The contingent was expected to have left for Ilorin yesterday under police escort.
By: Gabriel Nwanetanya
Hon Dike who spoke with sports journalists shortly after the flag off the 2024 edition of Chairman’s Football Unity Tournament at Botem Tai in Tai LGA, said the tournament is an annual event to promote peace and unity in Tai as well identify budding talents in the area for global competition.
The opening ceremony of the tournament was more like a carnival was witnessed by huge crowd including prominent indigenes of Ogoni Kingdom, sports lovers and people from all works of life.
The LGA boss revealed that special sports committee will be setup in the area to work out modalities to strengthen sports development in Tai.
He advised the participants in the tournament from various wards in the LGA to play the game by the rules and conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner and use the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Hon Dike further disclosed that his administration will also give priority attention to skills development among the youth to enhance their human capacity and promote enterprise development in the area.
Earlier in his address the Chairman of Tai LGA Football Council, Elder Wisdom Gorgor said the annual football competition has been a unifying factor in Tai LGA that need to be sustained to forge more unity and development in the area.
He urged the participants to see the competition as an opportunity to embrace football as a full career and earn sustainable livelihood.
Elder Gorgor who commended the Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon Dike for his visionary leadership and tremendous development achievements recorded in the LGA under his administration, appealled to the Chairman to build a Mini Sports Stadium in the area to promote sporting activities.
The training was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Basketball Court in Kano last Saturday.
According to the Vice President and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, the event was part of the league’s commitment to growing broader basketball ecosystem in Nigeria and making the game more accessible across the country.
“Our first Jr. NBA clinic in Kano speaks to our commitment to growing the game in Nigeria and creating more opportunities for boys and girls to learn and play the game,” Abudu said.
“Nigeria has a rich basketball history and abundance of talent, which is evident every time you watch an NBA game. We look forward to continuing to engage with basketball stakeholders, business leaders and members of the community to further the game’s reach and impact on young people around the country,” she added.
The 2024 basketball initiative clinics of NBA Nigeria also included the league’s inaugural Jr. NBA elite camp for 150 boys and age-16 girls held at the American International School in Lagos in July.
Others include the NBA’s building of 1,000 courts in Africa over the next decade, Nigeria’s Festival Coins and Salubata named the top two winning businesses at NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator’s inaugural Demo Day in New York City held last September, and the third edition of “NBA Meets Art,” a curated installation celebrating basketball through the lens of Nigerian art and culture as part of West Africa’s premier art fair Art X Lagos, held in November.
Central to this vision is the federation’s investment in capacity building, evident in the just-concluded one-week Level 1 Badminton World Federation (BWF) Coaching Course, which marked a significant milestone for Nigerian badminton.
Held in Abuja, the course brought together 13 young coaches from across Nigeria. The last time such a course was held in the country was in 2017, making this a historic and transformative step.
The training was facilitated by the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) in partnership with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and conducted by Dr. Ahmed Radah, the BCA Development Manager.
Radah, impressed by the talent he witnessed, praised Nigeria’s potential.
“Nigeria is blessed with immense talent and a strong badminton tradition. I believe this country has what it takes to dominate on the global stage,” he remarked.
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