Kaduna state government has reiterated it determination to invest heavily in sport activities aimed at encouraging young talents to engage in sporting activities across the state.
The State governor, Malam Nasiru Elrufai stated this when the the Commissioner for Sports Development, Idris Nyam presented him the State athletes who won laurels and other prices in recent competitions.
Governor Elrufai commended the athletes and coaches, assuring that, investments in sporting infrastructure would continue.
In a remark, the State Commissioner for Sports Development, Mr Idris Nyam noted that, the purpose of the gathering was to present the winning athletes and sports teams who have made the State proud at both local and international sports competitions.
He said the young men and women had shown commitment to their craft and displayed the quality and potential for building a professional career out of their sports, from Kaduna State.
“As Your Excellency is aware, Kaduna State has a very rich and robust sports culture which now spans over a century of recorded history with the establishment of the Kaduna Golf Club in the year 1921. Since then, Kaduna State has continued to achieve major milestones in Sports, as demonstrated in the commissioning of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in 1965, being the second oldest stadium in Nigeria”.
According to him, the Kada Stars Hockey Team, represented the State at the Nigerian Hockey Super League Championship held from the 21st to the 4th of November 2021, where they won.
The Sport Commissioner added that they also represented the State at the African Cup for Clubs Championship held in Accra, Ghana from the 17th of November – the 3rd of December 2021, where they came third in Africa among others.
He said the State Cricket Team had also participated in the Nigeria National Cricket League Series 2021/2022 which they have now won for a record 3 consecutive times. They also represented the State and Nation at the International Uganda League Tour (Series) 2021, which they equally won.
While Volleyball Team also won the 2021 National Volleyball Division 1 League. They have now qualified for this year’s Volleyball Premier League, adding that the Basketball Team won bronze medal in the Mark D. Ball Women Basketball Championship 2022 held at Abuja in January among others games.
According to him, the Ministry of Sports Development would continued to strive to sustain and progressively improve the landscape for sports development in the State.
Mr Nyam also revealed that, the Ministry is currently in the process of formulating a State’s Sports Development Policy, which is guided by the State Development Plan (2021-2025) and the UNESCO Charter on Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sports.
“The vision of the Policy is to make Kaduna State the most viable State in Nigeria for the Sports industry, with full citizen participation and industry attractiveness for investment and pursuit of a professional career, providing a variety of industry-centered social and economic opportunities for all. We will soon be submitting a memo to Your Excellency in this regard”.
AMINU DALHATU
