Abia, Hungary partner to build sports academy, as Otti outlines plans for sports development

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Abia State says it’s partnership with Hungary in the area of sports development would lead to establishment of an international sports academy in the state.

The academy will identify toddlers and teenagers with various sporting talents and take them in for training.

Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this to newsmen in Umuahia while briefing them on resolutions reached during this week’s State Executive Council meeting.

Kanu said that Hungarians were already in the state to scout for talents in the ongoing Governor’s Secondary Schools Unity Games personally flagged off by Governor Alex Otti himself, adding that the event was an indication that Otti and his administration was paying attention to all sectors.

“In line with the strategic approach to governance by His Excellency and this government, almost every other sector is receiving attention; and sports, I must say, is very much in the frame,” the Commissioner said.

Kanu added: “To that effect, there is an ongoing sports event now tagged the Governors Secondary Schools Unity Games.
“The takeaway here is the fact that there are scouts from Hungary.. There is an initiative that the government is embarking upon, there is some form of partnership with them, they will come here and help to scout those kids and take them to Hungary.

“But beyond that is the fact that the partnership will lead to the establishment of an international sports academy where people from the tender age of five years will be recruited and trained in various sports.

“And what this means is that when these kids come of age, of course, they will go to different countires to go and display their talents and, by implications, they will be our ambassadors who will go out there to go and earn dollars and pounds, which, at the end of the day, they will repatriate to the state.

“Government wants to run sports as a business that will, at the end of the day, benefit our youths.”

Governor Otti, had, while flagging the Abia secondary schools sports meet, confirmed the catch-them-young policy of his administration, to boost sports development in the state.

“What we have started with these games is a signal to what we want to do for the entire sports eco system in the State. We have recently developed a comprehensive grassroots sports development plan that would involve the development of sports infracstructure, training and exposure of talented athletes to life-changing opportunities and platforms.

“We are already in talks with local and foreign partners to commence the pilot phase of the programme which will see us build model sports centres in communities and urban neighborhoods, where kids and teenagers with talents and interest in pursing careers in sports would be taught the ropes by accomplished professionals through structured programmes,” he said.

The Governor revealed that he has set up mechanisms for revival of inter-house sports and other sports competitions in the State to harness the potentials of Abia youths
To that end, he said he has also directed Principals to regularize inter-house sports in the secondary schools, adding that Ministry of Youths and Sports was working with the Ministry of Education to restore physical and health education in the state.

Otti further disclosed that his administration was reviving the Nsulu Games Village in Isialangwa North and promised that sports would be run as a professional venture in Abia.

The sports fiesta is the maiden edition of the Governor’s Unity Cup competition in the state and has champions from secondary schools in the 17 Local Government Areas competing amongst themselves for laurels in 24 sporting events.

Governor Otti urged the students involved in the competition to approach the games with the aim to win and tasked officials of the competition to be fair to all teams.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports , Mr. Nwaobilor Analaba, had said that Governor Otti was intentional about what he wants to do in Abia, especially in promoting sports, starting from the grassroots to the cities.

Analaba said the Governor approved sports in schools and sports competitions among students which led to the maiden edition of the Governor’s Unity Games among secondary schools in the State, and thanked the Governor for sponsoring the competition and procurimg sports equipment.

Also, the Director of Abia State Sports Council, Mr. Obioma George, also thanked Governor Otti for his interest in sports, saying:
“Since the creation of Abia State, this is the first time in the history of the State that secondary schools are converging in the capital city of Umuahia for the secondary schools’ games. Not just that, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, came in person to declare the competition open. So far, we have recorded, as documentations, 1, 840 students ready for the competition,” George said.

The event is holding at the Umuahia Township Stadium.