Sports Development: Okowa Harps On ‘Catching Them Young’
DELTA State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, has reiterated the importance of catching children young as a key strategy to strengthen youth and sports development in the state.
Speaking on Thursday, the governor made this known during the kick-off ceremony of the Zenith Bank Delta Headmasters’ Cup 2021 Edition held in Asaba.
The governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Festus Ovie-Agas, emphasized that sports promote discipline and build confidence in young people.
Moreover, he emphasized that engaging children in sports helps keep them focused and away from negative influences.
“There is need to catch them young as the importance of sports in the development of our youths cannot be overemphasized.
It promotes discipline and helps to build confidence in the youths and, above all, takes them away from the streets,” the governor said.
Furthermore, Governor Okowa noted that the government must continue to mentor and monitor young athletes to help them reach their full potential.
“As a government, we need to monitor and mentor the youths so that one day these young men could be elevated into a proper sports academy where they would further be polished,” he added.
Afterwards, the governor officially kicked off the ceremonial football match between defending champions Nosiere Primary School 1, Agbor, and Uzoigwe Primary School, Asaba.
Government Committed to Discovering New Talents
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Primary Education, Hon. Chika Ossai, stated that the state government is fully committed to discovering and nurturing young talents through school sports competitions.
Additionally, he emphasized that continuous monitoring and mentorship are necessary to guide young athletes toward becoming globally competitive.
“Proper monitoring and mentoring will continue to ensure that these talented children can reach the level where they can compete with their peers in any part of the world,” Ossai said.
Zenith Bank Commends the Initiative
Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, represented by Mr. Ijeoma Okowa, commended the Delta State Government for its unwavering support of grassroots sports.
“The bank is happy about the success of the competition. We have reaped benefits in the area of the quality of talents discovered through this event,” Onyeagwu said.
He further added that the partnership between Zenith Bank and the Delta State Government has yielded positive results, particularly in promoting youth empowerment and talent development.
Tournament Expands Across Delta State
Similarly, the kick-off in Asaba marked the beginning of the tournament across various Local Government Areas in the state. In fact, the initiative aims to identify and groom future sports stars at the grassroots level.
Finally, the grand finale of the Zenith Bank Headmasters’ Cup 2021 Edition will take place on November 11, 2021, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa has reiterated the need to catch the children young as a measure to further strengthen the youths and sports development in the State.
The Governor gave the charge on Thursday at the kick-off ceremony of the Zenith Bank Delta Headmasters’ Cup 2021 Edition in Asaba.
The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Festus Ovie-Agas, maintained that sports promotes discipline and helps in building confidence in the minds of the youths.
According to the governor,” there is need to catch them young as the importance of sports in the development of our youths through sports cannot be over emphasized.
“It promotes discipline and helps to build confidence in the youths and above all, takes them away from the streets.”
Governor Okowa posited that as a government, “we need to monitor and mentor the youths so that one day these young men could be elevated into a proper sports academy where they would further be polished.”
He kicked off the ceremonial football match between the defending champions, Nosiere Primary school 1, Agbor and Uzoigwe Primary School, Asaba.
In his remark, the Hon. Commissioner for Primary Education, Hon. Chika Ossai, stated that the state government was set out to discover talents through sports.
He maintained that proper monitoring and mentoring would also continue in other to get these talented children to the level where they can compete with their peers in any part of the world.
The Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, who was represented by Mr. Ijeoma Okowa, said that the bank was happy about the success of the competition.
The Zenith Bank boss maintained that the bank has reaped profits in the area of the quality of talents the competition has helped to discover.
The kick-off of the football match in Asaba also marked the kick-off of the tournament in different Local Government Areas of the State .
The finals of the Zenith Bank Headmasters’ Cup, 2021 Edition is expected to take place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, on the 11th of November, 2021.