Bayelsa Govt. takes grassroots sports development mission to schools

Posted : 27 September 2024

In a bid to educate and sensitize students on the benefits and importance of sports, the Bayelsa State Government, through the Ministry of Sports Development in conjunction with the Bayelsa State Sports Council, has launched its first mission at the Ijaw National Academy in Kaiama.

The Bayelsa State Sports Ministry initiated a project called the "Pilot Bayelsa Future Aces Project" (BFAP), which was borne out of the A.S.S.U.R.E.D agenda of the Prosperity Government.

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Speaking during the sensitization campaign, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Bayelsa State, Daniel Igali, stated that the initiative is part of a revolution to nurture young talents, beginning with school sports.

Igali emphasized the importance of school sports as the best place to identify and cultivate young talents, stressing that the right attitude toward the game goes beyond winning at that age.

"We realized the importance the government of Bayelsa State has placed on sports development when you look at the new manifesto of the ASSURED program; Senator Douye Diri placed sports as number two, which puts the responsibility on us to ensure we drive the message to the grassroots. There is no better place to start than at the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama."

"As you know, there is a very good connection between sports and education. In this context, young athletes need to understand how to win and lose at a very young age because we've seen how athletes can be negatively affected between the ages of 15 and 20 before they start encountering winning and losing."

"These are the messages we want to convey. Sports teaches consistency, leadership skills, and perseverance, and that is why we've established the Bayelsa Future Aces Project. We will reach out to every nook and cranny in Bayelsa, visiting every primary and secondary school with a population of over 100 students," Igali expressed.

Earlier, the Director of Sports at the Bayelsa State Sports Council, Braveman Wodi, while thanking the state government for prioritizing sports, hinted that the Sports Council will monitor the young students who have expressed interest in sports.

"This project aims to discover and develop our local sporting talents, who will become ambassadors for both now and the future."

"We have collated data to follow up with them on the various sports they've indicated interest in, and as you know, that is the job of the Sports Council: to promote grassroots sports development.

"So, our coaches and secretaries will come to provide the students with basic training subsequently," Wodi added.

The highlight of the campaign was the demonstration of different sports to entice the students into the sporting industry.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports in the state, Grace Alagoa, along with the ministry's DFA Funke Aya, Assistant Director of Human Resources Michael Alakere, Executive Director of the Sports Academy Asoama, Ophibikoro Freeborn, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association Ama-Ebi Stow, and Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborodudu, along with coaches and secretaries, were also part of the sensitization entourage.

Bayelsa Govt. takes grassroots sports development mission to schools

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