The Imo State Commissioner for Education, Professor Johncliff Nwadike, has revealed the plans of Imo State Government to again revive the age long moribund school sports competitions in the state.
Nwadike who stated this while addressing members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Imo state chapter during a courtesy cum solidarity visit in his office at the State Secretariat, New Owerri said the Imo helmsman, Hope Uzodinma has given the marching order that the various school sports competitions be reactivated in the state for talents discovery at the grassroots.
Nwadike affirmed that sports remain the only Unifying factor in Nigeria and is also a source of wealth, especially when talents are harnessed while saill young and that, that informed the State Government’s resolve to get school sports working again.
He pointed out that this achievement will help reduce the level of drug abuse and juvenile delinquencies in the state, noting also that so many sportsmen and women in Nigeria today are products of school sports.
The Commissioner reassured that the plans to bring back school sports is on going and it is only a matter of time for it to start up.
He said: “ Part of the 3R mantra of His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma is recovery and I told the HOD of sports that one thing we must do in this Ministry is to recover school sports because most of our youths are now engaging in drug addiction and abuse.
“If we have enough activities to keep them busy through sports they would not indulge in drug abuse and crime.
“You raise some critical issues about school sports, most of us are beneficiaries, it’s rather unfortunate that some of us entered sports when it was not lucrative, if I had known that one day sports will be this lucrative, I would have been active. many of us benefited immensely from school sports we know the importance.
“I have discussed with his Excellency while waiting for the memo, I will send it to him. Every person knows the importance of school sports. if we don’t rehabilitate sports, it means we are shooting ourselves on the foot. Sports is now money. from my primary and secondary school days, the greatest gift I got as a sports man is an handkerchief and oranges but today people are earning big money through sports and if you don’t start early enough and make them interested in it they would not appreciate it.
“If we rehabilitate it, definitely it will lead to the good of our people when it becomes necessary I will get SWAN involved and thank you people for your interest.
“I believe our working relationship will improve better. “ he assured.
Nwadike, who was one of the Team Imo goalkeepers for the 1977 National Sports Festival further highlighted the importance of sports as the unifying factor in Nigeria, which he insisted makes the revival of school sports as a priority project.
He further opined thathis ministry would partner with Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Imo Chapter whom he re-echoed are the professionals in the area of sports reporting: “SWAN members are specialized professionals and I want to tell you that if there is anything that has kept Nigeria together, it’s sports.
“Sports is a powerful instrument of nation building and the way people know what is happening in the sports world is through the activities of SWAN.
“SWAN and their members are doing great jobs , if you go to newspaper stands, you see people who purchase newspapers just because of sport news.
“Sports papers do not stay beyond the period of production so you have a sacred duty of making people very happy at times.
“I want to say that without SWAN the whole place will be dull so I thank you for the happiness and smiles you put on peoples face and it’s my prayers that you sustained it.
Earlier during the visit, the Chairman, SWAN, Imo Chapter, Everest Ezihe told the Commissioner that one of the essence of the visit is to renew the Association’s age-long collaborative relationship and partnership with the Ministry.
The Chairman recalled that SWAN has for years had collaborative partnership with the Ministry especially as it concerns school sports such as Principals and Headmasters Cup competitions as well as Governor’s Cup other sporting tournaments but lamented that these sporting tournaments / championships have almost gone into extinction.
He went further to appeal to the Commissioner on the urgent need to revive and rejuvenate school sports as it will go a long way in talent didcoveries through strategic engagement of the youths so as to be useful to the state and the country.
Ezihe also informed the commissioner that the association has secured an office in the Dan Anyiam stadium through the magnanimity of the state Sports Commissioner, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo and pleaded for the support of the Ministry in furnishing the office as well as aiding the association in sponsoring some of its members to upcoming competitions.
He told the Commissioner of the resolve of the association to honour and decorate him as a Distinguished Patron of the prestigious professional association at a later date.
Photo: Imo State Education Commissioner, Prof Nwadike with members of Imo SWAN when the latter paid him a courtesy call in his office.
