Niger state governor Mohammed Umar Bago has donated Ten Million Naira (N10m) for the development of badminton game in the state.
The state Head of Service, Engr. Abubakar Y. Salihu, made this disclosure when he represented the governor at the closing ceremony of the first edition of Governor Umar Bago Inter local government badminton championship, at the Minna Sports Club complex, Saturday.
He reiterated the commitment of the present administration in the state towards engaging the youths in meaningful ventures, and ports in particular.
The Governor added that Niger state sued to be home to varieties of sports which he said was no more, promising that hIs government would work towards bringing back the lost glory of the state in sports.
He expressed the readiness of the state host any national tournament of badminton, and applauded the state badminton association for its foresight to develop the game by discovering hidden talents, even as he appreciated the support of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) to the state.
In his remarks, the national president of the badminton federation, Barr. Francis Orbih said with what he saw some of the badminton players exhibited, he has seen hope and future of badminton in Niger state.
He also disclosed that Niger state Badminton association was dear to them at the national body, and that only few states in Nigeria can boast of a badminton facility like that of Niger.
The National president also noted that Niger state had done a lot for badminton in Nigeria and appreciated the key actors for keeping light shining, paying tribute to some notable individuals from the state who contributed to the development of the game in the country, including former minister of sports, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, Amb. Yahaya Farouk, Prof. Farouk Haruna Rasheed among others.
He said the Niger state badminton family was lucky to have a leader like Hon. Nma Kolo, added that they will engage the leadership of the state badminton association to ensure the state host under 15 and 17 national championships.
Similarly, the state Commisoner for youths and sports development, Hon. Yahaya Ibrahim Gulbin-Boka, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Mallam Garba Nuhu Ngaski said the ministry had recorded tremendous achievement since the coming of Gov Umar Bago and appreciated the Governor for his support to the ministry.
While commending the state badminton association for staging the championship, he also urged the leadership of the association to make it an annual event which he said by so doing will further solidify the development of the game in the state.
Earlier in his address, the state chairman of the badminton association, Hon. Mohammed Nma Kolo said they observed that the state has a lot of badminton players scattered across the state, hence the rationale behind the staging of the championship to discover some hidden talents that could be nurtured to stardom.
He also disclosed that they were satisfied with what they saw as a lot of the players, including the veterans who took advantage of the event have something to offer the state and the country at large, promising that the event would be an annual one.
Nma Kolo also added that the state was ready to host any national tournament because they have one of the best state of art badminton facility you could find anywhere in the country, and appreciated the state Governor, Umar Bago for his support to the cause of badminton, as well as all stakeholders who contributed in making the event a success.
Suleja LG is the overall winner of the first edition of the championship with four gold, three silver and four bronze medals, Bida LG is second with one gold and four bronze medals, while Bosso came third with a gold medal. About 20 local government areas of the state participated in the championship.
