Sports
Development under the restoration agenda of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson
Sports Development is one way of Empowering Bayelsa Youths and Building a
Healthy Citizenry. The Restoration Agenda of the Governor of Bayelsa
State(Henry Seriake Dickson) will not be Complete, if we fail to highlight the
Gory and almost Decayed State of our Sporting structure and its Facilities.
There was total Neglect before the Restoration Team took Over, which led to the
Collapse of a Once Vibrant and Promising Sporting Body. The Restoration Team
once settled in, Inaugurated a Nine-man committee on sports development with a
clear mandate to re-position sports in the state for improved performance.
Governor Dickson was Swift to recognize the dire Need of a Total Rebirth as it
Concerns our Sports Development in the State. The Country Man Governor who is a
Sports Enthusiast, decided to take it a Notch Higher, and thus the Sports
Academy was Born. He made the Announcement at the swearing-in ceremony of five
new Special Advisers at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House,
Yenagoa. the Governor observed that the state could hold its own Forth, and
also has comparative advantage in a number of sporting events. The Governor
Stated Categorically that, the Sports Academy would provide the youths of the
state the ample opportunity to acquire formal education, as well as develop
their skills in sporting activities. While inaugurating the sports development
committee, Governor Dickson said the setting up of the committee is to
underscore the importance his administration attaches to sports.
This Focus Body would become the rallying point in sports development. the
Governor noted that sports can be used to harness the services of youths and
serve as a unifying factor and also promote healthy living. it has become
imperative for the state to fashion out a robust sports development policy.
Since Bayelsa state has comparative advantage in a good number of
multiple-medal sports, there is no reason why Bayelsa should not be a
fore-runner in sports. The committee was charged with mapping out plans to
establish a befitting sports academy, identifying sports in which the state has
comparative advantage and making recommendations on how the identified sports
can be promoted for the over-all benefit of the state. The new committee would
be responsible for the re-organizing and sensitization of all sports organs,
for the realizable achievement of excellent performance in sports and finally
work out ways of ensuring awareness and mass participation of Bayelsans in
sports. A Local Content Capacity Development Institute, Asuama in
Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area is to serve as temporary facility for
the Sports Academy. Construction of a befitting world class Sports Academy in
the State is Ongoing.
Why would Bayelsa State need an academy?
The Rationale behind the establishment of the Sports academy was, to produce an
army of champions in our young men and women of the state as the move was to
harness their talents, and Steer them away from criminal tendencies. The
Governor highlighted Governments Readiness to construct a world class sports
academy which is billed to take off as soon as the 2012 Appropriation bill is
passed into law. Governor Dickson said he was gratified by the participation of
5 Bayelsans at the just concluded Olympics games in London, on account of
which, he directed the Ministry of Sports and the committee to work out
modalities that would enable him provide the necessary backing to excel.
On sports development outside the capital city Yenagoa,the chairman of the
Sports Development Committee, Mr. Daniel Igali recommended that government
should establish recreational parks and mini sports centers in various parts of
the state for mass involvement of persons in sports.
He stressed the need for government to re-structure the sports ministry by
creating new departments as well as appoint Boards of the state owned football
clubs. For the sake of continuity and accountability, Secretaries of the clubs
would be appointed from the sports council. Taking this into Cognizance, the
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson called on youths in the state to
channel their energies to sporting activities and eschew negative tendencies
associated with cultism and hard drugs.
To this end, the Ministry of Sports was directed to set up sports development
committees in all the Local Government Areas to scout for budding talents who
will be groomed to stardom. According to Hon. Dickson, the major focus will be
in sporting events where the State has comparative advantage such as swimming,
football; wrestling and other combat sports to enable them win laurels for the
state and country in future. As part of measures to harness the sporting
potentials of the young ones towards making positive contributions in sports,
the Governor also announced the appointment of Mr. Friday Bayelayefa as Senior
Special Assistant on Sports Development. He stated that contracts have been
awarded for the Sports Academy which would be completed soon and would commence
the selection of youths who will make a career out of sports adding that,
contract has also been awarded for the maintenance and Upgrading of sporting
facilities at the Samson Siasia Stadium.
Immortalizing sports heros can help build the Image of the Citizens. In
pursuance of its policy of celebrating Ijaw Sports heroes, the Bayelsa State
Government will build a sports hall of fame to immortalize its sportsmen and
women who have made the state proud. The Governor, who directed the Secretary
to the State Government, Professor Edmund Allison-Oguru to set up a Committee
to work towards the realization of the project before the end of the year,
noted that the move is to inspire the youths to develop deep interest in
sports. The Governor also directed a renowned sports analyst, Mr. Ebi Avi whom
he described as having a vast knowledge in sports to work closely with the
sports ministry on the project especially in the area of documenting the
achievements of the champions. Bayelsa is replete with abundant human resources
that could be harnessed to become national, continental and international
champions. While emphasizing the need for the state to concentrate on sports
where it has comparative advantage such as swimming and wrestling, Governor
Dickson directed the sports ministry to inaugurate sports development
committees in all the local government areas with the aim of identifying
budding talents.
Similarly, top-class football coaches from different parts of the world would
help identify talented youths, who will be placed in top football clubs in the
world will be Invited to the State. Governor Dickson therefore called on the
youths to take advantage of the programme by registering with the sports
ministry, noting that the state government has resolved to identify and invest
in an Athlete that will win a medal for Nigeria at the next Olympic Games in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Assuring athletes who would be representing the state
at this year’s National Sports Festival in Lagos in November, the Governor
charged them to put up a brilliant performance that would make the state proud.
Highlighting some of the Sports ministry’s achievements Under the Restoration
Agenda, the Commissioner for Sports announced that Bayelsa United Football Club
had gained promotion to play in the Nigerian Premier League in the next
Football season, while Bayelsa Queens are placed second on the National Women’s
league table. while In wrestling, he said the team which represented the state
at the just concluded wrestling championship in Enugu won 19 out of 21 gold
medals. Chief Obodor who announced that government has awarded contract for the
construction of a world-class Polo sport facility in Yenagoa, and Construction
was in top gear.
So much has Happened within this few Months in the sports development of
Bayelsa state. There is no Doubt that the Giant Strides of our Efficient
Governor and Leader of the Restoration Team in the Area of Sports Development
in Bayelsa State is a Welcome Development
I am Mike Pius a journalist; and I write for The Republic Media,publisher of Sports Republic newspaper. I would like you to help me with contacts of the state's commissioner for sports.
ReplyDeleteThis is to enable me have a chat with him and do supplementary publication on sports in the state.
Thanks with sporting regards in anticipation for your cooperation and favrourable response.
My contacts are mike@sportsrepublicng..com, mikemasus@gmail.com and +234 8063-3989-17
Call 07035262029
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