Rivers state Accountant-General, Sir Dagogo Abere, has called on the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to do more for the nation by encouraging the discovery of hidden sports talents at the grassroots.
Addressing the new SWAN executives in Rivers State who paid him a courtesy call in Port Harcourt yesterday, Abere said sportswriters should help in sports development in the country.
He said: “I must thank you; just as you said, Rivers State in those days used to be one of the best states in terms of sports. Like you also identified, we had a lot of young talents and we got all of them from the grassroots. We also had athletes, we had sprinters and we had basketball players.
“What I will advise is that you go more into the grassroots and discover these talents. It is so good and important. Yes, at this stage, for very many of us, we look at those who are successful in business.
“But outside here, the people who relationship matter in society are sportspeople in particular. We can hear their names. Even now, sportsmen who are Nigerians, you see how they are selling abroad.
“This can only be done by SWAN because they are those who can go to the grassroots, discover talents, and bring these talents to the knowledge of administrators.”
Earlier in his speech, SWAN Chairman in the state, Udede Jim Opiki, appealed to Abere to institute and sponsor sports tournament in the state, in order to encourage the discovery of talents at the grassroots.
