By Unogwu Vincent
The introduction of the Federation of Public Service Games FEPSGA as far back as 1980 is a great stride towards attaining statesmanship through sportsmanship. FEPSGA is a quest that persists through time, bringing men and women of civil and public service into a single fold of competitive sports. The idea behind FEPSGA is not just to ascribe fitness to workers of the public sector but to inculcate in them the principles of healthy living, setting goals, team work, and sportsmanship and creating in them the Spirit of winning despite all odds and apparent challenges.
It is true that a healthy people is a healthy nation, keeping fit is a cardinal responsibility of everyone despite age, size, gender or economy status. It was on this premise that the organisers of FEPSGA deem it fit to ascribe upon the project a motto tagged “fitness for life”
To run a country, we must first of all have a work force that can run a lap! If in any way the senior citizens and public servants cannot boast of a healthy life, then it will be difficult to behold healthy institutions that make up our socio-political and economy system. Today the average Nigerian public servant is a potential sportsman or woman all thanks to the establishment and consistent hosting of the FEPSGA.
The beauty of the games is the fact that it is open to all public services, institutions and Establishments, giving the civil and public servants ample opportunity to keep Fit, interact with each other, exchange ideas and make acquaintances during and after the period of the games.
What is worthy of note in the FEPSGA games is that it remains a melting pot of our diversity as it brings people of different orientation, culture, ethnic and religion divides into a single fold of acceptance, tolerance and friendship. One cannot deny the fact that FEPSGA is an extension of the philosophy establishing the NYSC in terms of promoting national service and unity.
Three things put together make FEPSGA the back bone of Nigeria’s unity. First is the fact that the hosting rights is usually rotated across the geopolitical zones whereas organisers gives opportunity for public servants to travel round the country and participate in the games bringing with them their peculiar cultural orientation and also experiencing the peculiarities of other people’s culture and traditions.
The second stride that is worthy of commendation is the openness of FEPSGA as it gives opportunity to all ministries, departments and agencies to send their staff without limitation in terms of cadre or numbers to participate in the game. Thirdly is the team spirit exhibited by the players who in their sports attires and jerseys will hardly pass for a typical civil servant. Though most of them are out of sports for quiet a time, yet the challenge of representing their ministry, departments or agencies in the field of play inspire their performance.
FEPSGA is playing a key role in embedding personal commitment and sentimental value of public servants towards the institutions they represents. The truth cannot be deny that many workers feel more patriotic to their departments when they compete against others, they invest their time, energy, passion and skills all in the quest to win laurels for their MDAs. This passion and commitment usually does not end at the games but transcribe to their day to day duty in their various workplace. With this we can say FEPSGA plays a critical role in improving productivity in the public sector.
The just concluded FEPSGA games in owerri which lasted from 30th November to 11th December remain the most memorable of all FEPSGA. This is due to the unprecedented cooperation and commitment of the comrade Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha a comrade to the core who identify with the organiser and participants. The Governor hosted the mammoth crowd to a gala-night and did his best to make sure everyone goes back with a memory of the hospitality of the Imo state people.
Some of the events competed include football, basketball, volleyball, handball, racquet games and track and field making a total of 14 sports for both male and female category. Another memorable experience remains the colorful display of tracksuits and jerseys by teams of different ministry! That is where the competition starts as every team try to appear the best. Some of the challenges that rob on the smooth hosting of the 34th FEPSGA are the allegations and counter allegations of some MDAs using mercenaries to compete on their behalf. This phenomenon is a big challenge to the rules and discipline committee who have the responsibility to sanction, punish and suspend such erring MDAs.
In looking forward to the next FEPSGA games come 2016, we all as a people give kudos to the officials and organizers, as well as the founding fathers of the remarkable games. Through FEPSGA many public servants will transmit their sportsmanship to statesmanship serving Nigeria better and smarter.
Vincent wrote from Abuja
