Ex-Commissioner Urges Active Participation In Sports

Nigerians have been charged to embrace sports as part of life which  participation should not be restricted to festivals and entertainment.

The former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Rivers State, Mrs Vivian Braide gave the advice Saturday at the 13th Annual Inter-House Sports competition of Immanuel International School, Abuloma in Port Harcourt.

Mrs Braide, who is currently the Special Adviser to the Governor on New University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, said by nature, sports is supposed to be a routine in life.

“Don’t wait for inter-house sports or any competitive sports festivals before indulging in sports,” she remarked.

The former Commissioner while speaking as the Special Guest of honour at the event, urged parents to encourage their children and wards to always see sports as integral part of life, nothing that academic activities alone could not make a complete school system without sports.

General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Celstine Ogolo, expressed the need for private schools to provide facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports.

Mr. Ogolo, who was chairman of event, explained that the nation has created sports potentials, maintained that stakeholders across the nation should be part of efforts in developing sports from primary to secondary school level.

The general manager recommended that private schools that lack space for sports facilities could consider moving to decongested parts of the state to create room for sports development.

Represented by the Group News Editor of The Tide, Mr. Nelson Chukwudi, the general manager commended authorities of Immanuel International School for putting in place sports facilities for the development of sports.

Earlier, the principal of the school, Pastor Geraldine Kalango said the school was committed to sports development as it has facilities for all necessary sporting activities.

“We don’t compromise with P.E. Health which is compulsory at basic level, and general sports which we observe twice weekly,” she said.

Mrs Kalango further disclosed that the school has won laurels and other recognitions at regional, national and international levels, and was determined to win more recognition in sports.

Meanwhile, Peace House won the first position with 197 points, Faith House got second position with 174 while Charity House came third with 159 points. Mr West Gogo emerged over all best participant.

Chris Oluoh