In order to encourage grassroots sports as well as discover young talents, the Ogun State government has said it would revive the moribund state sports festival which serves as a prelude to the National Sports Festival.
The Sports Commissioner, Wasiu Isiaka, made the disclosure at the 2nd biennial inter house sports competition of Vivanis Group of Schools held at the Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta.
He noted that the state sports festival which was last held during the tenure of Senator Gbenga Daniel led administration, would avail the state government opportunity to discover talent and nurture them to stardom.
He explained that the move would bring competitiveness among the state athletes that will represent the state for the National Sports Festival, saying arrangement is in top gear with the state Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Board to organize talent hunts among primary and secondary school pupils in the state to improve sports at the grassroots level.
His words, “It is our responsibility to nurture them to stardom. We are meeting SUBEB and the Education Ministry to see how we can bring back school sports. The government is determined to improve sports, there’s a specific plan. We are bringing talent hunts between primary and secondary schools.
The government is ready to do everything possible to engage them. Sports have a unique way of bringing people together. We are planning a lot of things because we have the ability to train these talents. We are trying to make sure there is synergy between the private schools and the state government.”
According to him, “The government has concluded plans to bring back the state sports festival, we are going to return it and the plan is on the way.”
Isiaka however said the Sports Ministry would begin open trials for athletes that will represent the state at the National Sports Festival.
The chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji while speaking earlier, charged the state government to begin early preparation for the forthcoming National Festival.
Ogunsiji maintained that early camping of the athletes would ensure the success of the state at the biennial sporting event.
In his welcome remark, the Director of College, Vivanis Group of Schools, Desmond Nwachukwu commended the state government for creating an enabling environment for sports to thrive.
Nwachukwu called on the state government to beam its searchlight for talents among private secondary schools in the state, saying this would give every parent a sense of belonging.
