Bauchi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Salisu Gamawa revealed that the State Government is ready to support sports development adding that it is a new dawn for sports in the state.
Honourable Gamawa made the assertion during the Langa (Traditional Sport) at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi on Monday.
Gamawa said the ministry in collaboration with the 20 Local Government Areas are ready to ensure raw talents are discovered in the rural settlements.
He added that the State Sports Festival will help curb youth restiveness and social vices in the state.
Gamawa said, “I thank God for making it possible for the people of Bauchi State to witness the first ever State Sports Festival since the third republic; for 41 years we have not had the opportunity to do it till now. Governor Bala Mohammed in his wisdom approved the festival as a way of engaging the youths in the 20 Local Government Areas and curbing social vices.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has discovered some talents during the Festival. It will interest you to know that a current African Champion has been defeated by an athlete from one of the Local Government Area; this is to tell you that the state can have loads of potential champions from the grassroots”.
He revealed that the majority of the participants featured in the festival were not born when the first edition took place in 1983.
The sports administrator said, “90% of the participating athletes have never witnessed the State Sports Festival because most of them have not been born. We believe in the next edition (2025) people will be looking forward to featuring in the Festival.
“I want to assure you that Bauchi State will make a huge statement at the forthcoming National Youth Games next September and the evidence is currently at the ongoing State Sports Festival”, he ended.
