The Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Bassey Eno has said that his administration is ready to raise the bar in sports and youths development under the ARISE Agenda.
The State Governor stated this on Sunday, while declaring open the 79th Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Uyo, the State Capital.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi, Eno said the government would achieve its objective through the development of more viable sporting facilities and programmes.
While thanking the NFF leadership for hosting its 2023 AGM in Akwa Ibom, he said, “the current administration is ready to give a push to sports development, saying by so doing, the youth would be encouraged to go off the streets and given a meaningful living.”
The deputy said that the “Governor is a lover of sports and that is why sports is well captured in the ARISE Agenda.”
She used the occasion to call on the nation’s football authority to take full advantage of the various sporting facilities in the state, which she noted were of international standard.
According to her, “The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, the Eket Stadium and the Uyo Township stadium are all world class sporting facilities which will always avail the NFF in its national league and continental matches,” she added.
Truth Live News gathered that the state Chief Executive also made a case for the involvement of more women in sports administration in Nigeria, while wishing the Super Eagles success in their African Cup of Nations (ALFON) Qualifier Match.
The Minister of Sports Development, Sen John Owan-Enoh and the President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, earlier in their separate remarks, commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for creating a conducive atmosphere for sports to thrive in the State and the country at large.
Present at the event were the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko, Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Youths and Sports, Hon. Uwemedimo Asuquo, Members of the NFF Board, as well as sports stakeholders in the country.