In a major boost to sports development and youth empowerment, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has instituted an international scholarship programme for athletes who distinguish themselves in their chosen sporting disciplines.
The initiative is aimed at encouraging young Nigerians to take sports more seriously as a career and providing exceptional athletes with opportunities to develop their talents at the international level.
The heartwarming revelation was made by the South-East Zonal Representative of the National Sports Commission, Mr. Bernard Ezema, during the closing ceremony of the South-East Chess Classics, tagged “The Battle of Titans,” held in Umuahia, Abia State.
Ezema said the scholarship programme was part of efforts to motivate young athletes to pursue excellence and see sports not merely as recreation but as a viable career path.
He also commended the organisers, players, parents and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful staging of the chess championship.
Describing chess as “a game that improves the mental domain,” the NSC representative noted that the sport plays an important role in developing concentration, strategic thinking, discipline and intellectual capacity among young people.
He encouraged the participants to remain committed to the game and continue to improve their skills through regular practice and participation in competitions.
Speaking on behalf of the parents of the younger chess players, the father of the Open Category champion, Mr Tyowase Kaagba, expressed appreciation to the organisers for providing a platform where young players could test their abilities, gain experience and develop their talents.
Kaagba urged parents to encourage their children to participate actively in sporting activities, stressing that sports can contribute significantly to their physical, mental and social development.He also advised the chess players to take the game seriously and dedicate more time to improving their skills and intellectual capacity.
Addressing the young players, he said: “Go home, work on your chess and chess will work on you.”
His son, Tyowase Collins, emerged champion of the Open Category and was rewarded with a gold trophy, medal and cash prize for his outstanding performance.
The championship featured four categories: the Open Category, Female Category, Under-2000 Category and Under-16 Category, providing opportunities for players of different ages and skill levels to compete and showcase their abilities.
The competition, organised by the Abia State Chess Association in collaboration with the Abia State Government and the Abia State Sports Council, attracted chess players from across the South-East and provided a platform for emerging talents to gain valuable competitive experience.
In another notable development, 14-year-old Theophilus Amarachukwu, a student of Leaders Summit Academy, emerged as the best-performing chess player from Abia State at the competition.
His performance further highlighted the depth of young chess talent in the state and underscored the importance of creating more opportunities for young players to compete at state, national and international levels.
The organisers expressed optimism that the championship would help strengthen the development of chess in Abia and the wider South-East region while inspiring more young people to embrace the sport.
