The Enugu State Government says the state will organise the Secondary and Tertiary Institutions Games to harness talents in various sports.
The state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Joseph Udedi, disclosed this while receiving Executive Committee members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Enugu State Chapter in his office.
“The essence of the Games is for the state to harness hidden talents, especially at the grassroots level, in preparation for events such as the National Sports Festival (NSF), the National Youth Games (NYG), among others,’’ he said.
Udedi said the Games would be put together by the Youth and Sports Ministry in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education before the end of the year.
The commissioner expressed regrets that the state contingents have performed abysmally at the just-concluded NYG and other sports events.
He said the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was highly interested in reviving sports in the state.
“The era of government giving only football attention in the state is gone. Under my watch, I will ensure diversification of sports in the state,’’ Udedi said.
In a remark, leader of the delegation and Enugu state secretary of SWAN, Mr. Ignatius Okpara, had assured the Commissioner of the association’s support and cooperation via objective reportage at all times.
He urged the Commissioner to always see members of the association as key stakeholders in the business of sports development in the state.
