School Sports Boss Hails Wike, Sirawoo

Special Adviser on School Sports to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Aribitonye M. Okiri, has commended the governor and the national President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Honour Sirawoo for attracting the World Congress of AIPS to Port Harcourt.
The World Congress of AIPS is the biggest convention of the entire sportswriters in the world(over 200 countries) at a place to discuss the developments of sports journalism scheduled to hold October this year, this will put the garden city of Nigeria on international sports focus.
The Special Adviser disclosed this yesterday, while addressing Sports Desk Officers of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education (UBE) in his office.
According to him, “the future belongs to the children and youths so we owe it a duty to train their bodies and minds for greater engagements”.
Okiri noted that school sports involves young, growing children and so we can start now to engage them adequately and assist to take them away from anti-social vices such as cultism, examination malpractices, gangsterism and drug abuse.
“ Sports is a powerful tool for building the minds of young ones and help to prepare them for higher tasks in the future, thus people in positions of authority have been advised to engage the youths properly and help raise a more dependable society,” Okiri said.
He equqlly said that the governor is concerned about the up bringing of Rivers children through sports, adding that they can be raised to develop love for the great virtues of life such ad hard work, honesty, love for God and develop self and also be respectful to elders.
Okiri, who was also a former state athlete, charged the UBE officials, led by the state Sports Officer, Alabo Fubara to partner with his office and execute programmes that would profit the youths and enable them to appreciate the importance of sports.
“They should understand the importance of sports, which emphasises a healthy mind in a healthy body, leading to a better society where the youths become better players and leaders,” he concluded.