The Akwa Ibom State government has set up an 11-member committee to drive a renewed push for grassroots sports development across the state.
The initiative, tagged the Grassroots Sports Development Initiative, is designed to identify and nurture young talents while rebuilding a strong foundation for sports.
The Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, said the move reflects the government’s commitment to creating a sustainable sports ecosystem.
He stressed the need to revive sports at the school level, describing classrooms as the starting point for long-term athletic success.
According to him, the governor has directed the Ministries of Sports, Education, and Youth Development to work closely together to achieve the initiative’s goals.
He expressed concern over the decline in school sports and called for a return to structured programmes that support early talent discovery and development.
Bassey noted that ongoing engagements with the Ministry of Education are aimed at refining strategies, adding that youth development and sports must go hand in hand to produce meaningful results.
The committee has been tasked with designing a framework that promotes mass participation in sports, identifies emerging talents early, and supports their progression from community levels to elite performance.
Its objectives include, boosting participation among children aged 6 to 17, encouraging discipline and healthy lifestyles, and organising structured competitions at the grassroots level.
The initiative will focus on primary and secondary school students, community sports clubs, women, and persons with disabilities.
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A key priority is the revival of inter-house sports competitions in schools across the state.
Members of the committee were drawn from key government bodies, including the Ministries of Sports, Education, Youth Development, the state secondary education board, and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
The commissioner urged the committee to approach its assignment with professionalism and urgency, noting that its recommendations will play a crucial role in shaping the future of sports in Akwa Ibom.
The committee is expected to submit its report to the governor within 14 days.
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