From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna
The Niger State government has inaugurated 24 boards to ensure grassroots development of sports for various sporting associations under the state Ministry for Sports Development.
Inaugurating the various boards made up of five to six members each at the Youth Centre in Minna, the state Commissioner for Sports Development Alhaji Yusuf Tagwai, urged them to assist government develop sports in the state. “We want to appeal to you to assist Niger state government develop sports from the grassroots,’’ he said.
Tagwai said that the board members were elected because of their commitment to the development of sports in the state, adding that they have three year tenure to make the necessary changes. “You are elected into this board because of your commitment to sports development in Niger state,’’ he said.
The Commissioner also said the ministry has purchased 100 pieces of mats recently to develop combat sports in the state. The sporting associations under the ministry include hockey, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, weightlifting, taekwondo, handball volleyball, swimming, fives, lawn tennis, badminton and squash. Others include table tennis, athletics, judo, golf, scramble, special sports, basket ball chess, local wrestling, karate and shooting.
Responding on behalf of chairmen of the boards, , the chairman wrestling board Alhaji Buhari Mohammed urged his colleagues to gear up for the enormous task ahead.
“We will do everything possible to ensure sports development in Niger state,’’ he said.
