Considering the growing interest among Nigerian youths in sports and games and the role they play in physical and mental development, the Director of Nobles Academy and College (NOBAC), Pastor (Mrs) Oku Elijah Sam has called on governments to establish sports academy to train budding talents.
Speaking in an interview with The Tide shortly after the 2nd Inter-house Sports competition of the school held last weekend in Port Harcourt, Mrs Sam said that the establishment of sports institutes by state governments would help to encourage children with talents and divert their attention from indecent behaviours and criminal tendencies.
According to her, when a child engages in sporting activities and grows in any specialized area, it will afford him or her the opportunity to participate and excel in national or international competitions that would boost their well-being.
“If governments set up sports institutes, it will encourage children to not only identify their talents but also boost their financial pursuit when they take it seriously”, he stated.
Encouraging Rivers State Governor, Chief NyesomWike to actualize his plan to establish a sports academy in the state, the school proprietress enjoined children to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship as it would take them to greater heights.
She stressed the need for parents to encourage their children who are interested in sports and games, pointing out that the days are gone when sportsmen and women were seen as never-do-wells.
Sam called on philanthropists and sports lovers to encourage and promote sporting activities by donating equipment to schools and regretted that lack of sports facilities was a major challenge facing sports development.
The woman of God also called on the states Ministries of Sports and Education to include sports and games in the school curriculum, especially at the secondary and primary schools levels in order to catch them young.

Shedie Okpara