The opening ceremony of the Bauchi State Sports Festival 2024 was ruined with low attendance following the poor publicity in the state.
This is the first edition after 4 decades (1983) in Bauchi State comprising Old Bauchi and Gombe.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor, Awwal Jatto; Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleman; Head of Service; Haruna Ningi, Commissioner For Youths and Sports, Silas Gamawa; amongst other personalities.
The Main Bowl of the 30,000 sitting capacity Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium was largely empty considering the magnitude of the event which looked like a secondary school inter-house sports.
Speaking with a group of Bauchi residents, they collectively said they do not have an idea the sports festival was taking place in the state capital.
Mohammed Awwal said he got a WhatsApp message from his friend who is an athlete to come attend the opening ceremony of the festival.
Awwal said the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development needs to do more in terms of publicity in informing its citizens of the ongoing festival.
He further said, “The turnout of the opening ceremony is poor because citizens are not aware of the ongoing State Sports Festival. I got a message from some of my friends who are participating in the festival that the opening ceremony is happening.
“This is the first time we are organising a Sports Festival after four decades and I expected the organisers to do better. The publicity of the event is very poor and I hope they consult professionals”.
In his welcome address, the Deputy Governor, Awwal Jatto enjoined the athletes to savour the beauty of Bauchi while urging them to participate in the Festival with sincerity.
The chief host and Commissioner For of Youths and Sports Development, Silas Gamawa harped on the benefits of the Festival while urging stakeholders to ensure it is sustained.
He said three junior athletes from Bauchi have been invited to participate in the Para Badminton Championship in Spain next year.
“In November 2023, the Governor sponsored the Director of Sports to the United World Wrestling referee course in the United States of America”, he added.
