‘Sports, Vehicle For Youths Dev’

The Taraba Director of Sports, Mr Dauda Mamman, has said that the state was using sports to engage youths in meaningful pursuits.

Mamman described sports as a vital ingredient in youth development in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

He said that the state had taken advantage of every opportunity to engage youths in one form of competition or the other to turn them into respectable individuals.

“We all know the other benefits of engaging youths in sports, like developing their minds and making them healthy apart from preparing them for competitions.

“And for that reason we have set up a state football academy headed by a former Nigerian international footballer, Tijani Babangida.

“Because we want the best sports personality to impact in the lives of those in the academy,” he said.

Mamman told Tidesports that “we have also taken sports into schools, especially football since it is most familiar to youths.

“Not forgetting the fact that we collaborate with both religious and corporate bodies who show interest in engaging youths in sports.”