- * As Niger State Gov, Mohammed Bago, Solicits Job Opportunities For Youths Through Sports
By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Chairman/CEO of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Alhaji Mohammed Nami, has called on Nigerians to learn to manage sports facilities as doing so would encourage more private investors to invest in the sector.
Nami who is the chairman of Niger State Squash Association (NSSA), is also a private sponsor of a 3-day ‘Invitational Squash Tournament’, held in Minna, Niger state.
According the FIRS Chairman, Nami, the Tournament which is also part of events lined up to celebrate the wedding Fatiha of his son, Kabir and his heartthrob, Zahra, who got wedded last weekend, is to provide opportunity for unemployed youths in the state to be engaged.
He said he decided to renovate the Squash Court at David Mark road after many years of abandonment and also sponsored the tournament because of his love for sports, Squash in particular.
Nami stated that, “I want to encourage us to learn how to manage public facilities. The money used to renovate this Court is not from me alone. The money was sourced from the big, the small, the high and the mighty so we must learn how to maintain the facility by guarding it jealously”.
The FIRS chairman called on well meaning Nigerians and sports lovers to join hands with the government in giving sports the desired boost as the sector is capable of creating jobs for millions of jobless Nigerian youths.
Nami who also facilitated the renovation of the Squash Court after over eight years of abandonment and in a state of disrepair said the Tournament is aimed at supporting the Governor Bago led administration towards revamping sports sector, Squash in particular.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago who spoke shortly after the finals of the 3-day Squash Tournament, solicited for the support of well to do individuals and corporate organisations in Niger state to join hands with him in creating lifetime opportunities for jobless youths through sports.
Bago said the Niger State administration under his watch intends to embark on grassroots mobilisation and grooming of sporting men and women to restore the state to its top position after years Niger was missing in national sports table.
Though the sector has suffered years of neglect due to poor management, dilapidated facilities, Bago said he is ready to partner with willing individuals and corporate organisations to create lifetime opportunities for young men and women willing to engage in sports as life time venture.
Governor Bago spoke through his Special Adviser, Alhaji Mohammed Nma Kolo. He said he is concerned about the future of Nigerian youths and leaders of tomorrow and that he is ready to do all that is within his powers to encourage grassroots development of sports.
Notwithstanding years of woeful outings due to lack of motivations and poor remuneration, inadequate or substandard training equipment, the Governor assured sports lovers that the challenges plaguing the sector will soon be a thing of the past and therefore encourage more private sector to invest in sports in order to end joblessness among youths.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper Correspondent reports that the Kaduna state team lead, Fortune Laah, emerged winners in the overall men category after beating Abubakar Adamu of Niger state who came second position to 3-2.
In the U-19 (male) category, Gideon Bala of Niger state also lost to visiting Sunday James from Kaduna state 3-0, while Gloria Kayasa of Niger state emerged overall winner in the female category after defeating two other contestants. NNL.
