The 2020 National Sports Festival Torch of Unity on Wednesday arrived Anambra State as part of the rituals for the commencement of the upcoming Nigeria’s most prestigious sporting event.
The Unity Torch was initially received by Chief Emmanuel Okala, SSA to the Governor on Sports from officials of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and subsequently passed to the Chairman Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ASSDC), Chief Tony Oli, who handed the Torch to the Executive Governor of the State, His Excellency, Chief Sir Dr. Willie Obiano.
Recieving the torch, Governor Obiano stated that the presence of the Torch at the State’s seat of power will play a unifying role as sports is a tool for social integration. He also emphasized that the torch will bring peace and prosperity to Nigeria and arrest all imbroglio in the country. The number one citizen of the state posited that for the first time in the history of the state, she will be fielding for all the events at the upcoming National Sports Festival in Edo State which shows the importance his administration attach to sports.
On his part, Chairman Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Tony Oli, posited that the Unity Torch is a unitying symbol of the Nigerian games which extends to the unity of the Nation, Chief Oli revealed that just as Anambra State is hosting the Nigeria Police Games, the athletes and officials are also preparing to make the State proud at the upcoming event billed for March 22 to April 1 2020 in Benin, Edo State capital.
The National Sports Festival is a biennial multi-sport event organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry for Youth and Sports for athletes from the 36 States of Nigeria. The historic sporting event which started in 1973 with its maiden edition staged at the National Stadium Surulere in Lagos, was originally conceived as a “unifying tool” with the main purpose of promoting peace and cross-cultural affiliation in Nigeria after the Nigerian Civil War in 1970.
The games also serves as a development and training event to aid athletes prepare for continental and international meets.
