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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Federal Government has commended the contributions of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to the development of sports in Nigeria.
The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, gave the commendation on over the weekend during the finals of the 6th edition of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football tournament christened Prosperity Cup, which was held at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa.
Senator Enoh, who witnessed the final games between NDU Queens and Peremo Academy in the female category as well as a male category between Ogboinbiri of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and Nembe City of Nembe Local Government Area, noted that since becoming minister, Governor Diri had been a recurring decimal in Nigeria’s sports sector.
The Sports Minister said Governor Diri has continued to encourage and sponsor the growth of football and other sports not only in Bayelsa but also has been very supportive of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
He stated that the motto of the Prosperity Cup, “Taking Sports Development To The Grassroots,” resonates with the determination of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development to bring back its zonal offices across the country, stressing that the future of sports lies in the grassroots.
He said: “Since becoming Minister of Sports, I have found one governor that has been a recurring decimal in Nigeria’s sports sector and he is the Governor of Bayelsa State.
“Wherever I have gone, this governor keeps recurring. He kept providing support, encouragement, and sponsorship, particularly when Nigeria competed in AFCON. He is one governor who made a commitment to the team and redeemed it immediately.
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“The Nigeria Wrestling Federation has the Commissioner for Sports in Bayelsa, Daniel Igali, as president. This governor has done more for that federation than anyone else. I am supposed to leave for Germany tomorrow to be with our Olympic team but I said I must be here and I am glad I came.”
Senator Enoh said with over 200 teams registered for the tournament, the Prosperity Cup was a model that other states should copy.
Speaking during the Minister’s courtesy visit to the Government House, Governor Diri said his administration will continue to encourage and develop talented male and female athletes in the state and expose them to the world.
Diri urged the youths to be focused on pursuing their dreams, taking a cue from the likes of Daniel Igali.
He expressed satisfaction that the community-based competition has lived up to expectations, especially seeing a grassroots team from Ogboinbiri community emerging champions, and congratulated the organisers for making judicious use of approved funds.
“This competition is not just urban-based; it is also community-based. You can imagine a team from Ogboinbiri, all the way from Southern Ijaw, subduing the urban teams from Yenagoa. So I am very happy with the organisers of this competition. Mr. Ono Akpe and his group have done so well.”
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, thanked the governor for his unrelenting support for sports.
Director-General of the Prosperity Cup, Ono Akpe, while commending Governor Diri’s commitment to grassroots sports development, said the central and local organising committees would work to make the tournament better and more exciting in the next edition.
