By Tony Adibe
The Enugu State Government has reiterated its commitment to sports development, saying plans are underway to organise Enugu Sports Festival. But that would be in 2024.
The commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Lloyd Ekweremadu stated this on Friday at the press centre Enugu during the grand finale of the 2023 press week of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN), themed, “The Role of Sports Journalists in Advancing Sports Development Through Objective Reportage.”
The commissioner, represented by a director in the ministry, Mr Dan Onwuegbuna, advised SWAN to promote peace and unity through their objective reportage in order to discourage separative agitations among Nigerians, describing sports as a unifying force for national development.
He said the 2024 sports festival is targeted at catching them young in various sporting activities in order to achieve the goal of making the state a sports hub in the world.
Also, the former Special Adviser to the immediate past governor of Enugu state on information, Steve Oruruo, who was the keynote speaker said one of the problems of sports is sports development policies, adding that sports have played a huge role in conflict resolution among countries.
Oruruo, while saying it is only in sports that everyone is one irrespective of tribe, creed or race, mentioned various sporting activities which have all it takes to project the state and Nigeria at large positively to the world if governments invest in that sector.
He identified embezzlement and misappropriation of sports funds as the factors bedevilling the sector in Nigeria, and called on the federal and state governments to prioritise sports as a business for economic development.
The event featured award presentations to distinguished personalities including immediate past governor of Enugu state, Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who received the “Most Outstanding Supportive Personality in Sports Award” as well as former Enugu Rangers Coach, Mr Christian Chukwu who was given a “Living Legend Award”, among others.
