The Imo State Sports Commission Chairman, Hon Amb (Sir) Ogbonna Eleazar Onyewuchi Tuesday January 23, 2024 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri held a strategic meeting with the heads of sports departments in the State with the view of commencing revival measures for optimum output.
Ambassador Ogbonna who has always frowned at the backwardness of sports activities in the state emphasized on the need to brainstorm on ways of resuscitating sports in Imo State back it it’s lost glory
One of the revival measures taken recently is the meeting with departmental heads of sports for a robust deliberations on measure to revive sports development at the grassroots in the state, an act described as first of its kind.
The meeting which had the presence of Director of Sports Imo State Sports Commission, Sir Ferdinand Emeana among other management staff of the Commission afforded the departmental heads a wonderful opportunity to make firsthand contributions as well as express their challenges and the Commission Boss directed that all departments submit their reports for further study.
Prince Ogbonna popularly called a “Professor of Sports” while outlining his administration’s plan for sports development said;
“we can’t be here and allow sports collapses in our dear State. It’s our duty to make our meaningful contributions. On how to turn sports into a lucrative business which it has become in our state.
The former Professional footballer cum business mogul and philanthropist acquainted them about the Memorandum of Understanding the Imo Sports Commission signed with a Spanish Sports Agency among other partners in Europe to help train and retrain our Coaches and administrators as well as help develope our athletes into professionals.
He however assured of having more of such meetings with other relevant sports stakeholders in the State so as to identify and harmonize ways and measure for bringing sports activities alive in the State.
Prince Ogbonna also lamented on the need for government owned Schools both Primary and Secondary as well as the tertiary institutions and private schools in the State to bring back days of Games Masters as it used to be in the past and to restore sports programmes in our schools which he pointed out aids discovering of talents.
He continued that same measures will be applied down to our Local Government Council Areas in the State to help make sports an all participatory activity for recreation, talent Hunt, physical education, health care and business venture as in other areas globally.
In his words;
“sports is one of the major tool that can be used to curb insecurity through engagement of our youths in sporting activities. It’s said, an idle mind is a devil’s workshop.
Meanwhile, Prince Ogbonna used the opportunity to congratulate His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma “Onwa Oyoko” the people’s Governor on his victory during the November 11, 2023 election and his successful swearing in programme alongside his Deputy, Her Excellency, Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru held recently at the Dan Anyiam, Stadium noting that no doubt that with support of all Imolites the 3R/Shared Prosperity administration will surely give more attention to programmes geared towards revamping sports in the State through Sports Commission.
“There are still more stars abound in the State. Some of them have delved into several crimes, while some are wasting and lavishing their precious life and God given talent on hard drugs addiction but with these measures we can help them resourcitate their lives back on a good track.
“And we can still restore back our lost glory in place of sports activities in Nigeria.
