Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu Jnr, has disclosed. that Enugu State has formally bidded to host 2026 National Sports Festival, being the 24Th edition.
Ekweremadu ,who made this known to newsmen on Thursday ,May 30Th in Enugu, said the state Governor , Dr. Peter Mbah has bidded to host the First National 6Th Council On Sports Technical Meeting, held recently in Enugu.
He said his mandate as Commissioner, was the completion of the Astro- Turf, at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, and to return the International Football Club to Enugu, before the end of 2023, for its home matches in the on going 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League ( NPFL), as Governor Mbah, promised in his electoral manifesto.
Ekweremadu added that the Governor ensured that the right people were appointed into the Management and Technical Crew o andf Rangers International Football Club,Enugu, and consequently, the leadership of the Club in the on going 2023/ 2024 NPFL.
The Commissioner highlighted some of the achievements of his Ministry since July 2023, he assumed office to include, setting up of an Inter- Ministerial Committee with PPSMB, Ministry of Education,and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to bring back School Sports in the State.
He said Enugu State concluded Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Under 15 Grassroots Football Boys Championship won by Community Secondary School Ihe, Awgu , in 2023,.
The school will be representing Nigeria in China/ Africa Football Fiesta this year .in China.
The Commissioner added that the State sponsored Enugu State Female Basketball team ,who won South- East / South South Basketball Championship in Calabar, Cross River State, in October 2023, Silver in the finals of the National Basketball Competition in Lagos , respectively..
Other achievements included the South- East Boxing Championship, at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, in December 2023, where the State won overall best. 5 South Eastern States participated in the event.
Also, in December, 2023, Enugu State Para- Athletics team won 6 Gold Medals, 5 Silver Medals and One Bronze Medal in the December, 2023 Para- Athletics Games,v held in Abuja.
The Commissioner disclosed that his Ministry partnered David’s Hill Event Centre in the Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Boxing Championship held in February,2024. The State , also partnered I Tour Africa, to stage International Mixed- Martial Arts Caged Fight in Enugu in March this year.where international fighters from Congo, Senegal, Kenya and Uganda as well as, Nigeria fighters fought for honours.
The State hosted, South – East regional Under 17 NPFL Football Championship which Rangers Junior team won. Enyimba Under 17, Heartland and Abia Warriors Under 17 teams participated in the event.
He pointed out that the first ever, historic Sports Development Fund and Youth Development Bills awaiting the Governor’s assent, is premised that funding of Youth and Sports will be jointly financed by the State and private sector to help develop the sector.
Perhaps, he said, the greatest event by his Ministry, this year, was the First National Council On Sports Technical Meeting, held,in Enugu from Monday 2OTh- 22nd May ,2024 at the Old Government Lodge.
On Youth Development, the Commissioner said 700 youths have been trained in the Songhai agro processing farm industry, while 500 youths were trained in Artificial Intelligence and digital technology by AXL in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports , while 500 youths were trained in manufacturing products and are doing well in their businesses.
