By Ismaila Ajikobi, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike has revived the hitherto abandoned FCT inter-schools sports festival.
The sports festival had been abandoned for over 25 years before the coming of Barr. Wike as FCT Minister.
Speaking at the grand finale of the festival, the Minister who was represented by the Mandate Secretary, FCTA’s Social Development Secretariat, Aminu Ibrahim, disclosed that the sports festival christened “Nyesom Ezenwo Wike FCT Schools Sports Festival”would be an annual event, and will be used to harvest young talents across various the schools.
He also called on lovers of sports and other stakeholders to partner in developing the sports sector in FCT.
He said, ” The Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike FCT School Sports Festival has come to stay annually in FCT. We expect the support and partnership of our beloved parents and sponsors both nationally and internationally to make sports festival in FCT a tourist attraction “.
Also, the Mandate Secretary, FCTA’s Education Secretariat, Dr Danlami Hayyo said the Minister was intentional with the commitment to reviving the abandoned sports festival.
Hayyo noted that the festival which started at differrent eight zones, had revealed that FCT has the capacity to become a hub where the country can rely on for resilient athletes.
He equally pledged that the administration will give sports development all that is needed to make it interesting and motivating to both pupils and students.
Hayyo noted that the education Secretariat was taking sports development seriously because it promotes integration and unity, while building friendship among the young people.
Hayyo said, ” We call on all sport lovers to partner with the FCT, to make the honourable minister school sport festival, a point of tourism for sport grassroots development.
” We want the world to see the FCT as a safe heaven to harness talents for sport in Nigeria and the world.
” The minister of the FCT is a sport loving father and we trust grassroots sports will flourish during his tenure and we believe he will continue to support FCT in all areas of sports for success to be attained”.
The highlights of the festival was the presentation of trophies and medals to the individual athletes and schools for excellent performance.
On the Primary school category, the LEA Primary school, Kpadna emerged the overall winner with 7golds. The Junior Secondary School category, JSS Gwako came first with 4 golds, while the Government Secondary school, Karu came first with 9 golds in the SSS category.
