By Raphael Ede Enugu—
Th e Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with state Ministry of Education has concluded plan for secondary school/ tertiary institutions games to harness hidden talents in preparation for sporting events such as national sports festival. Th e state Commissioner for Youth and sports Hon. Joseph Udedi, gave the hint in his offi ce while receiving the executive committee (Exco) members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) Enugu state chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit.
Regretting the abysmal performance of Enugu state during national sports fi estas in the country, Udedi said the state in the recent past during such nationaal competitions had not been impressive. Th e Commissioner said the incumbent governor of the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, “is highly interested in reviving all sports in an interview with newsmen in his offi ce, Enugu. According to him, the era of given only football attention in the state is gone, adding that the state ministry of Youth and sports under his watch would ensure diversifi cation of sports. Udedi disclosed that on assumption of offi ce, he set up a sports development committee comprising various stakeholders with a view to drawing a road map on the way forward for spots in the in coal city state.
He expressed the readiness of his ministry in partnering with the state SWAN, which he described as partners in progress. In a remark, leader of the delegation, and Enugu state secretary of SWAN, Mr. Ignatius Okpara, had assured the Commissioner of the association’s support and cooperation via objective reportage at all times. He urged the Commissioner to always see members of the association as key stakeholders in the business of sports development in the state. Th e Enugu SWAN scribe, had also used the forum to applaud governor Ugwuanyi, for taken a bold step aimed at repositioning the Enugu club side, Rangers Inter. FC, by setting up a panel of inquiry into the crisis and abysmal performance of the club during the 2016/2017 Nigeria professional football league NPFL
