Abia State Sports Council has trained Sports Administrators and athletes in the state, reiterating their commitment towards sports development.
The Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George who disclosed this during the opening ceremony of Sports Administrators and Athletes by the Nigerian Olympic Committee.
He described training and retraining as key towards effective sports development in Nigeria, maintaining that the exercise would be continuous to achieve sports goals in the state.
Comrade Obioma thanked Gov. Alex Otti for his support towards developing sports at grassroots, explaining that keeping fit physically and mentally in sports is not negotiable.
On the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Ogun State, the Sports Veteran, said that Team Abia is preparing earnestly for the event with the view of performing better than the previous events.
Declaring the event open, the Abia State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Nwadioha Ananaba lauded the training initiative, adding that Gov. Otti-led administration is committed to sports development in the state.
The Sports Commissioner, who also confirmed that Governor Alex Otti-led administration is set to build a 35,000-seater capacity in the state, noted that it is one of the campaign promises of Gov. Otti to Abians.
He commended the Director of Sports Abia State, Comrade George Obioma for the training of Sports Administrators and athletes by the Nigerian Olympic Committee, adding that it is part of the state vision to develop and advance sports in the state.
He added that it would boost sports development and attract international competitions to the state.
Contributing, the National Course Director, Nigerian Olympic Committee, Dr. Esther Oluwatoyin said that she is impressed with the recent improvement in sports administration in Abia, adding that the importance of regular training of Sports Administrators in sports cannot be overemphasized.
In her words: “Sport is dynamic, continuum and requires regular training to remain relevant in sports development. The training of 10-15 years ago may not be relevant in the sports business of today”.
She applauded the training programme organized by the Abia State Sports Council, insisting that it would improve sports development in the state.
Dr. Oluwatoyin who expressed concern that Abia that used to produce finest athletes in handball, basket ball and volley ball among others are now lagging behind.
She called for a new approach from the present administration towards sports development at the grassroot.
The veteran National sports administrator maintained that Abia is due for an Olympic-sized stadium to give room for international standard sports halls to attract international sports events to Abia.
