Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development today, Thursday, bid farewell to a modest sized but strong 221-member contingent departing for the 19th National Sports Festival, which holds in FCT, Abuja, from 6-16 December, 2018, with events holding at the National Stadium.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Bulus Musa Amoyi, expressed his confidence on the State contingent.
“This contingent may be smaller compared to other states that we read or heard went with over five hundred member contingent, but we are confident that our contingent is formidable as it boasts some of the most talented and committed athletes and coaches in the country.
“At this Festival, we are going with more sports, athletes and accompanying officials than the previous editions we participated in.
“I see them holding their own against the best at the event. Their primary aim is to reach the podium and turn around the last performance of six years ago when the event was last held, in Eko, to contest the top spot.
“We believe that each athlete will use this opportunity to cement their careers for bigger things ahead in the international high-table.
“Above all, be good ambassadors of the State in whatever you do at the festival and know that there is a huge reward for medallists of any category”, Amoyi assured.
Joined by the State’s Director of Sports Organizing, Planning, Research and Statistics, Jibrin Barrie Salihu, as well as other Directors of the Ministry, Team Nasarawa is aiming to overturn their 20th place finish at the previous edition at Eko, Lagos State, six years ago, where they bagged some couple of medals.
This time Team Nasarawa is powered by a number of champions who led a top finish at various Zonal , National and West African competitions this year, especially in Karate, Judo, Kung-Fu-Wushu, Soccer and Disabled Sports.
They are further inspired by the release of funds and other incentives by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to facilitate the State’s smooth participation at the Festival.
Nasarawa State, with a total of 147 athletes, 72 accompanying officials and 13 sports in its contingent, is amongst 36 participating States of the federation in the festival featuring over 8,000 athletes and officials.
Eche Amos,
PRO,
Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development,
Lafia.
