…Shaibu applauds the initiative
Edo State Government Monday, played host to a delegation of promoters of Nigeria’s premier Sports University at the Government House, Benin City.
The Sports University is located in Delta State, South-South Nigeria.
The delegation was led by Senator Ned Nwoko, a former Senator representing Aniocha North Federal Constituency of Delta State at the National Assembly.
According to Senator Nwoko, the delegation was in Benin City, the Edo State capital, to formally intimate the Edo State Government of the establishment of a Sports University in Idumuje – Ugboko, Delta State of Nigeria.
Receiving the delegation, the State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu applauded the former Senator’s vision and the idea of harnessing and developing Nigeria’s enormous potential in sports to a world-class level.
“I love the path you have taken to start harnessing and developing our potential in sports through the establishment of a Sports University. However, you must ensure that it begins from the grassroots so that it becomes part of the school curriculum and not extracurricular”.
“As Edo State Government has done, it has become a part of our school curriculum. Our athletes will begin training this week ahead of Edo Sports Festival, where young talents from the grassroots will be given opportunities to prove their talents and be given scholarships to the University level”, Shaibu added.
Speaking earlier, Senator Ned Nwoko noted that the Sports University will harness and develop talents in Nigeria”.
According to him, “we saw the gaps in our sports system and we decided to build a Sports University to bridge those gaps”.
“The Sports University will focus majorly on training coaches who will be given scholarships to explore overseas after the local training”.
“Edo is known to be the home of sports in Nigeria and that’s why we’re here to seek your support and request that you send your athletes to our Sports University to be certified”.
“I believe so much in Sports and Education; that’s why I decided to build a University that will bridge the gap between sports and education, offering both conventional and specialized courses, where students will graduate with double honours”.
“The Sports Univerisity will be a veritable ground for selection of sportsmen and women that will represent Nigeria at local, continental and Intercontinental competitions”, Senator Nwoko added.
Top government functionaries, including the Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie, Esq., Commissioner for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Andrew Emwanta Esq and Chief Press Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Comrade Ebomhiana Musa, were at the courtesy visit.