Nwadike unfolds Imo state’s plans for school sports

Photo: Imo State Education Commissioner, Prof Nwadike with members of Imo SWAN when the latter paid him a courtesy call in his office.

From Everest Ezihe, Owerri

In view of her commitment in sports development and transformation, using the grassroots as a roadmap,Professor Johncliff Nwadike, the Imo State Commissioner for Education has revealed the plans of His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma’s Shared Prosperity and 3R administrative mantra to again revive the age long moribund school sports in the state.

Nwadike made this known while addressing members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Imo state chapter ably led by Rotn. Everest Ezihe as they paid him courtesy cum solidarity visit in his office at the State Secretariat, New Owerri.

Nwadike affirmed that sports has been the only Unifying factor in Nigeria and is also a source of wealth, especially when you catch them young and this is why the State Government is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to get school sports working again.

He pointed out that this achievement will help reduce the level of drug abuse and juvenile delinquencies in the state, noting also that so many sports celebrities in Nigeria today are products of school sports.

The Commissioner reassured that the plans to bring back school sports is on going and it is only a matter of days now for its commencement.

According to him, “ part of the 3R mantra of His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma is recovery and I told the HOD of sports that one thing we must do in this Ministry is to recover school sports because most of our youths are now engaging in drug addiction and abuse.

“If we have enough activities to keep them busy through sports they would not indulge in drug abuse and crime.

“You raise some critical issues about school sports, most of us are beneficiaries, it’s rather unfortunate that some of us entered sports when it was not lucrative, if I had known that one day sports will be this lucrative, I would have been active. many of us benefited immensely from school sports we know the importance.

“I have discussed with his Excellency while waiting for the memo, I will send it to him. Every person knows the importance of school sports. if we don’t rehabilitate sports, it means we are shooting ourselves on the foot. sports is now money. from my primary and secondary school days, the greatest gift I got as a sports man is an handkerchief and oranges but today people are earning big money through sports and if you don’t start early enough and make them interested in it they would not appreciate it.

“If we rehabilitate it, definitely it will lead to the good of our people when it becomes necessary I will get SWAN involved and thank you people for your interest.

“I believe our working relationship will improve better. “ he assured.

Nwadike further highlighted the importance of sports as the unifying factor in Nigeria, which he insisted makes the revival of school sports as a priority project.

He further opined that, “SWAN members are specialized professionals and I want to tell you that if there is anything that has kept Nigeria together, it’s sports.

“Sports is a powerful instrument of nation building and the way people know what is happening in the sports world is through the activities of SWAN.

“SWAN and there members are doing great jobs , if you go to newspaper stands, you see people who purchase newspapers just because of sport news.

“Sports papers do not stay beyond the period of production so you have a sacred duty of making people very happy at times.

“I want to say that without SWAN the whole place will be dull so I thank you for the happiness and smiles you put on peoples face and it’s my prayers that you sustained it.

Earlier, Ezihe told the Commissioner that one of the essence of the visit is to renew the Association’s age-long collaborative relationship and partnership with the Ministry.
The Chairman recalled that SWAN has for years had collaborative partnership with the Ministry especially as it concerns school sports such as Principals and Headmasters Cup competitions as well as Governor’s Cup other sporting tournaments but lamented that these sporting tournaments / championships have almost gone into extinction.

He went further to appeal to the Commissioner on the urgent need to revive and rejuvenate school sports as it will go a long way in talent reccoveries through strategic engagement of the youths so as to be useful to the state and the country at large.
Ezihe also informed the commissioner that the association has secured an office in the Dan Anyiam stadium through the magnanimity of the state Sports Commissioner, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo and pleaded for the support of the Ministry in furnishing the office as well as aiding the association in sponsoring some of her members to cover Heartland vs Enyimba DSTV tournament and the super 8 NPFL championship in EKet and Asaba respectively.

He told the Commissioner of the resolve of the association to honour and decorate him as a Distinguished Patron of the prestigious professional association.