The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding investment in sports infrastructure and youth development to boost grassroots participation, improve public health and create opportunities for young people.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Patrick Agha Mba, gave the assurance on Saturday during the 2026 Olympic Day celebration in Awka, where hundreds of athletes, sports administrators, youth groups and residents participated in a fitness walk organised by the ministry.
The event commenced at the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) headquarters and proceeded through major roads in the state capital before ending at the Awka City Stadium, where participants engaged in aerobics and other fitness activities.
Addressing the gathering, Agha Mba said Olympic Day commemorates the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on June 23, 1894, and is celebrated annually to promote the Olympic values of participation, learning and unity through sport.
He said the Soludo administration remained committed to strengthening grassroots sports through sustained investment in modern sporting facilities and youth-focused programmes.
The commissioner cited the completion of the Ekwulobia Township Stadium and the Country Club as part of the state’s efforts to improve access to sporting infrastructure, nurture emerging talent and provide constructive engagement for young people.
He also announced plans to make the Olympic Day Walk an annual event in Anambra to encourage regular physical activity and deepen grassroots participation in sports.
Promoting Unity Through Sports
Representing the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), sports journalist Jennifer Okoye said the annual celebration was aimed at encouraging mass participation in sports, promoting healthier lifestyles and strengthening the Olympic spirit by bringing together athletes, officials and other stakeholders.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Awka North Local Government Area, ThankGod Anagor, represented by Augustine Onukwube, described the event as a demonstration of the Olympic ideals of friendship, unity and healthy living.
Anagor also commended the wife of the governor, Nonye Soludo, for promoting healthy lifestyles through her non-governmental initiatives, adding that the local government would continue to support grassroots sports development.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Anambra State, Chikelue Iloenyosi, former Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Anambra State Chapter, Emeka Obi, and ASTUC Youth President-General, Ken Okoli, also lauded the state government’s investment in youth and sports, noting that sporting activities contribute to social development and provide positive engagement for young people.
The event concluded with aerobics, a taekwondo demonstration and the presentation of International Olympic Committee certificates of participation to attendees.
