THE Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has called for the full implementation of the Edo State Sports Commission Law in local government councils across the state.
The state government has taken a positive step towards the implementation of the law establishing the ESSC in the 18 local government council areas and Shaibu says this will encourage the development of sports at the grassroots.
The sports-loving Deputy Governor at a meeting with members of the state sports commission led by the chairman Yusuf Ali, the 18 Local Government Councils’ Liaison Officers and Heads of Local Government Administration, emphasised the need for urgent implementation of the state sports programme in pursuit of the set target as directed by the state government for the sports commission to produce 10,000 athletes within five years.
Shaibu charged the ESSC and the Heads of Administration of the 18 local government councils to ensure immediate establishment of sports committees in each local government area.
“The State Governor, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, has mandated the Edo State Sports Commission to produce 10,000 athletes, cutting across all the 37 sports in Edo within the next five years,” Shaibu said before clarifying that the state will prioritise 17 sports.
“This is doable, looking at the size and number of various games we have in Edo State. We have about 37 sports, but we are prioritising 17,” he noted.
“It does not mean we are not going to be participating in the rest, but our attention will be focused more on the 17 major sports in which we can distinguish ourselves as the sports centre of excellence and heartbeat of Nigeria.
“We want to ensure that Edo remains the number one in all the 17 major sports and in achieving this, it requires the collaboration of the grassroots and leadership of the local government councils.”
Shaibu stressed that the participation of the local government councils is vital in taking Edo State sports to the desired level.
“The reason being that you cannot talk about the grassroots sports development without the participation of the leadership of local governments who are closer to the grassroots people,” he explained.
“So, to achieve the target of discovering and harnessing the 10,000 athletes in Edo State who will be the feeder of other states in Nigeria requires joint efforts and collaboration.
“Sports has become a veritable tool in generating revenue that increases a nation’s GDP, unlike a former Governor of Edo State, who believes that it is a waste of resources investing in sports.
“We are making all efforts to ensure the private sector is encouraged to take over sports development in Edo State.”
The Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Mr. Yusuf Ali, noted that the body recently received commendations from FIFA’s representatives who were on an inspection tour of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
He pointed out that the solid infrastructure on the ground at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium makes CAF and FIFA to consider Benin for their events.
Olympian Ali promised that the Commission is ready to collaborate with the leadership of local government councils in order to achieve the state government’s set goals.
According to the former long jump champion, the collaboration will include setting up sports committees in the 18 council areas of the state made up of five members.
Two members shall be appointed by the leadership of the local government councils, a member to represent interest of the Local Government Education Authority, a member from the private sector to represent the interest of companies operating in the council area, and a member nominated by the Sports Commission who shall serve as the Secretary.
To underscore the urgency and importance government attaches to it, the various councils were given Tuesday, April 11, 2023 as the deadline to submit names of their nominees for the composition of the sports committee.
“This will make our job of liaising with the grassroots very easy,” the Chairman added.
The Local Government Councils Liaison Officers, in their response, affirmed their unwavering support for the set target and collaboration with Edo Sports Commission.
The Edo State Sports Commission Law was enacted on August 18, 2021and the Sports Commission was inaugurated on March 11, 2022 with Yusuf Alli as Executive Chairman.
Article 20 of the law makes provisions for the establishment of local government sports committees.
The local government sports committee is made of five members.The secretary must be an official of the state sports commission.
