By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has said it is committed to boosting sports and other extracurricular activities in public schools through appropriate funding.
Deputy Speaker, Mr KufreAbasi Edidem gave the assurance in Uyo yesterday when he hosted some members of the National U-19 Women’s team and the American Flag football teams from Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam in Itu Local Council.
The two female cricketers, Inyene Umoh and Deborah Bassey- members of Nigeria’s junior female Yellow Greens, gained international recognition after defeating International Cricket Council, ICC full member nations like New Zealand and Ireland at the ICC U-19 world cup held in Malaysia.
They finished in sixth position, while the American Flag football teams won the silver trophies in the Season Three secondary schools championship finals in Calabar, Cross River State.
The teams defeated 12 secondary schools in both male and female categories to lift the silver trophies.
Addressing the contingent, Edidem lauded the teams for making the entire state proud and commended games master and the coaches for believing in the abilities of the students and harnessing their talents for positive outcomes.
“I want to say that this is the Akwa Ibom spirit. You have made Akwa Ibom State proud. You have made yourselves proud. You have made your parents proud. You have made your school proud. You have made me proud, not because the secondary school is in my community and constituency, but because your achievement is a positive publicity for the state government.
“I want to assure you that the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, which is the legislature would ensure appropriate funding for sports in our schools, both, the primary and the secondary schools.
“We will appropriate and also ensute that budget for sports is released through oversight. What we are witnessing today is just what the Arise Agenda of Governor Umo Eno is all about, hard work, a winning spirit, and positive impact.
I’m impressed with your achievement. This shows that there are so many talents that are yet to be discovered in our state. Let’s go back to school sports.”
He charged the students to sustain the tempo by studying hard, eschewing cultism, and training continuously ahead of their next competitions.
The Deputy Speaker charged sports administrators in the state prioriise long-term sports development in public schools in order to achieve sustainable growth and lasting victories in future competitions calling on school boards, principals, and headteachers to accord sports a priority in the learning curriculum.
Director of school sports in the State, Mr Emmanuel Ebong, said that the contingent visit to the deputy speaker was in appreciation of his numerous contributions to the development of school sports in the state, which have yielded positive impact.
Ebong, who represented the Board Chairman, Dr Ekaette Okon, praised the deputy speaker for being a pillar of support to the teams adding that the American Flag football was introduced in secondary schools about three years ago, while Cricket, though a relatively known sports has been gaining ground in the county.
He also hinted that Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam, has been selected to be a centre for nurturing the game of cricket
He said that Akwa Ibom State’s blessed with abundant sports talents, if horned and groomed, were capable of winning national and global laurels and promised that the teams would not rest on their oars, but, sustain the tempo by commencing preparations for the next competitions later in the year.
The teams later presented the trophies to the deputy speaker, who rewarded the contingent of officials, games master, coaches, captains, and players with cash gifts.
