C’River To Encourage Athletes With Scholarships

Boys and Girls in Cross River State who excel in sporting competitions are to be awarded scholarship to university level as encouragement and appreciation of their prowess.

Governor Liyel Imoke disclosed this while declaring open the five days First Cross River State Primary/Secondary Schools Sports Championship at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, adding that all those that excel at the championship will be provided with all that will assist them to progress.

According to Imoke, these include scholarships throughout their education, boarding accommodation in schools and facilities to enhance their performance, advising the participants to read and write because the essence of the competition is to encourage those who excel in sports and academic while thanking local government chairmen for ensuring that the preliminary stages of the championship were held in their areas.

The governor enjoined local government councils to emulate the programme and celebrate those who excel in the championship in their respective areas because when the programme is fully operational it will be one of the best in the nation that will produce great talents of the world

He disclosed that government is planning with its consultant to initiate a comprehensive sport development in the state and called on all stakeholders to take the championship seriously and make it an annual event starting from inter house competition which is a good take off pad for greater heights, adding that officiating officials should adhere to international recording of time and expectation.

Imoke noted that the championship will not only produce the best but will act as a model and for young talented boys and girls to compete in competitions in Nigeria and beyond, saying that it marked the opening of a sport calendar and the beginning of something great as those who excel will be provided with all that will assist them to progress.

Professor Offiong E. Offiong, commissioner for Education in a good will address, not that in 2009, the state participated in the National School Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State and it won 9 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze medals and that the Ministry was planning to hold a reception for the victorious contingent for making the state proud.

Offiong added that the ministry is fully poised to encourage sporting activities in school.