Plateau Govt reaffirms readiness to revamp back sports development
By Nanfe Yakubu
Plateau State Government has reaffirmed its readiness to partner with any organization that will bring development for the benefit of its citizenry.
The Commissioner for Sports and Youth development, Hon Musa Ashoms made the assertion during a Press conference of the MTN CHAMP Season 4, held in Jos recently.
Represented by Kenneth Buenyen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said the Championship will be beneficial to the young athletes of the state, noting that catching them young is paramount.
” There is no better time than now to catch them young and I want to thank you for this great partnership,” he noted.
He assured the provision of a conducive atmosphere and support for their success.
Hon Kachallom Gang, Commissioner for Education, through Sabastine John, Director, Quality Assurance, commended them for selecting the state for the championship, noting that stipulated the peaceful and siren environment of the state.
” Indeed, MTN is reliable and has supported a lot of sports to thrive, not only in Plateau but in the entire country. I’m aware of many athletes who were discovered and are now champions in their field of endeavor and we’ll take this for granted.” He said.
Professor Ezra Gunen, Director of Sports, Plateau State Sports Council, highlighted that the championship has led to the discovery of numerous athletes who represented the country in International events.
” We appreciate you for initiating this program, which leads to the discovery of hidden talents and I want to advise the athletes to combine it with education which will be helpful in future.”
He maintained that the focus of the present regime of governor Caleb Mutfwang is to ensure sports is combined with education.
” I started sports during my secondary school, and represented the state and the country in champions and today I’m a professor of Excises and Sports Science and we’ll ensure our athletes achieve such a feat.
He further revealed that the state has a lot of Marathon Runners who are doing well, adding that at the just concluded Lagos City Marathon, the first ten runners are from the state and solicited for support.
Yemi Galadima, Managing Editor, Making of Champions, disclosed that since its inception, the championship has featured over twenty three thousand athletes, across one thousand three hundred schools, which made the championship the most femost school athletic Championship in the world.
” Here in Jos, one thousand three hundred athletes from one hundred and forty eight schools will compete in Season 4. We are proud of the support accorded in Nigeria. Last year at the MTN CHAMP Continental, 6 teams from Nigeria qualified to the mix 4-1 relays and two teams are from MTN CHAMP,” she said.
In their separate remarks, Ugonwa Nwoye, Chief Customer and Experience Officer and Ibe Etea, Forensic Services Officer of MTN Nigeria, stressed that the state was selected because of its topographical weather and appreciated the government for supporting them.
