PHOTOS: Gov. Peter Mbah Receives Sports Minister, Reveals Plans to Better State Sports
The executive Governor of Enugu state has over the weekend, received in his office, the Minister for Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, who was on a working visit to Enugu State.
The visit he said was a good opportunity to share with the minister, my plans for the sports sector.
In his remarks he said, “With my background as a businessman, I always see endless possibilities in every sector and the sports industry is not an exception. That is the reason my administration has taken the bold step to design a comprehensive policy document on sports, which goes beyond recreation and entertainment, standing out as a major revenue generator and contributor to our planned sevenfold growth of the state’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion in the next eight years.
“In light of this, we will be holding a sports summit next year to showcase investment opportunities in the sports sector in the state. We shall invite the Minister of Sports Development and other sports sector stakeholders and investors.
“Enugu State has been the home of sports legends in all fields, having the history, reputation, and passion for sports. We are working tirelessly to ensure that we regain our past glory as a city and a state for sports legends. We are determined to groom raw and unharnessed talents to become world talents.
“Next year, we shall have the Enugu State Sports Festival which will be an avenue to raise the awareness that we can build raw talents, and sharpen them to become outstanding future legends. We are also targeting to be among the top three in the next National Sports Festival.
“A number of our sporting facilities have been identified for intervention and we are poised to revive and invest hugely in them. Already, we are making preparations to host the National Sports Festival in no distant time. We shall invite the Minister of Sports Development to come and have a look at the facilities we have put in place in the area of infrastructure. We are hopeful that when that time comes, Enugu State would be given the privilege to host the 2025 or 2026 National Sport Festival.”
He however said that currently, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium is being refurbished, and the turf, track and field and outdoor facilities will be ready for use in a few weeks.
“Indeed, our dream for the sports industry is great and it would be wonderful to have the Federal Government assist us in the rehabilitation of sports indoor facilities, to groom the skills of the youths in basketball, tennis, handball and all the indoor games.
“My gratitude to the Minister of Sports Development for finding time to visit, and for his expressed commitment to a partnership between the Federal Government and Enugu State Government on grassroots sports development as well as sporting infrastructure in the state.
Tomorrow is here!”