Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River on Friday reassured that his administration would continue to pursue grassroots developmental programmes that would make young people achieve excellence in life.
Imoke stated this at the state?s flag-off of the 4th Primary and Secondary School Athletics and Swimming Championships at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.
The governor said that although there were challenges posed by the shortage of sports facilities and infrastructure, his administration would ensure that the discovered youth talents were developed to international stardom.
“We have a responsibility to give our children much more than we had when we were growing up.
“The sustained improvements of our contingent in sporting meets can be attributed to our comprehensive sports development programmes.
“For us, this programme is a success story. I am passionate about such events and we hope that it is sustained by subsequent administrations, even after we must have left office.
“It is imperative for us to revive school sports because it represents the future of our youths and the fact that most cultures in the world hold sports in great esteem,?? Imoke said.
The governor also expressed government?s appreciation to the chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas in the state for leading their wards to the championships and taking pride in seeing their contingents succeeded in sports.
Also speaking, Patrick Ugbe, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, said the new focus of the state?s sports development initiative was founded on “grassroots sports development strategy.??
“It is in realisation of this that six sports development centres have been established across the state, with two centres in each of the three senatorial districts of our state.
“The emphasis in this novel approach is to invest in talent hunt for our young sportsmen and women, right from the grassroots level.
“Once identified, they will be groomed, nurtured and equipped with modern competitive skills through first class training and coaching and thrown up to the world of sports for national and international competitions.
“Of course, we are mindful of building both the mind and the body, hence, the emphasis on their education, as well,?? Ugbe said.
