Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ANSSDC) Chairman, Mr Patrick Estate Onyedum has called for the revival of school sports in the state and Nigeria as a whole.
Mr Onyedum made the call during a meeting with officials of the ANSSDC, Directors of Sports at the Post-Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC) and Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), as well as representatives of private school owners in Awka, the state capital.
The Chairman revealed that the essence of the meeting was to draw a roadmap towards reviving the school sports culture that will aid in the discovery and nurturing of abundant talents domiciled in schools with the hope of producing world stars in the nearest future.
Onyedum also said that the present government under the leadership of Professor Charles Soludo, a sports-loving Governor, is ever willing to support programmes that will empower Anambra children to make a mark through sports.
He tasked sports officers in schools and local government areas to key into his vision through talent hunt in their constituencies and comfort zones.
Engaging stakeholders
In her response, the Director of Sports at ASUBEB, Mrs Anthonia Nwaneri said she and her team are willing to partner with the commission in achieving the objective.
Mrs Nwaneri emphasized that the state was doing well in sports until when they were schemed out in 2016 and the creation of the sports commission in 2018 worsened matters.
On her part, PPSSC representative, Mrs Victoria Nwobi re-echoed the views of her ASUBEB counterpart on the need to engage critical stakeholders that will drive the vision of the present leadership at the ANSSDC. She thanked the ANSSDC Chairman for engaging them via this forum as it is essential in changing the narratives on school sports culture.
Also speaking, a representative of the Owners of Private Schools Association of Nigeria (OPSAN), Anambra State Chapter, Comrade Ralphael Okafor said the meeting with sports stakeholders is apt as it will help in defining the roles of various stakeholders in the noble course of reviving school sports.
Nurturing stars
In his remarks, a veteran sports consultant and administrator, Mr Olu Sule emphasized that sports officers’ job is cut out as they are saddled with the responsibility of discovering and nurturing athletes into future world stars.
He admonished them to eschew bickering, power tussle and monetary gains which is an albatross to the noble initiative of the commission.
The ANSSDC under the leadership of Patrick Estate Onyedum as part of his vision for sports development intend to revive school sports culture through the introduction of school sports festival which is expected to commence this year.
Emmanuel Ukoh
