The Anambra State Sport Development Commission in conjunction with the Ministry of Education has announced 2nd May, 2024, as the commencement date of the Second Edition of the Anambra School Sports Festival for all primary and secondary schools in the state.
News Echo reports that this year, a total of 756 schools will compete in 12 sporting events which includes, Athletics, Basketball, Chess, Football, Scrabble, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleybal, Cricket and Ncho.
The Announcement of the Anambra State School Sports Festival Tagged “ANSSI 2024” which took place at the SSG Conference Hall, Government House, Awka on April 30, 2024 is set to harness raw talented individuals who will become world leading olympians and champions in the near future.
Speaking in his welcome address, Chairman Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Mr Patrick-Estate Onyedum explained that the festival which is the second edition have discovered young, raw talented children from across Anambra who have participated at the National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State and shook the country at that level of sports development.
According to Oyendum, “Children of Anambra State became once again, princes and princesses of the tracks, karate and Taekwondo prodigies, Beach Volleyball champions and national sensation. As I speak to you, some of those athletes are on academic scholarships in some of the best schools in Abuja and Anambra.
“They have continued to progress steadily, this is evidenced in their performances at the ongoing MTN Secondary School Athletics Championship and about four of them have qualified for the final of that competition in Calabar and they are already there as we are gathered here right now”.
He assured that this year’s edition promises to be bigger, better and more exciting. While pledging that the sports Commission will continue to support them especially in the area of sports infrastructure.
Earlier speaking, Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Soludo represented by the Chief of Staff, Hon Ernest Ezeajughi noted that the goverment commitment to sports is to build a liveable and prosperous anambra state.
“It’s about the development of sports in Anambra state which paves way to harnessing potentials in the areas of sporting activities. This is a project that was birthed by Soludo administration. We planned it and now we are executing, checking the transition report and promise Ndi Anambra to supplrt sports as major area for development”.
“We want to raise future champions and we know we have talents. And so we must develop those talents and so we won’t want to give this generation excuse in developming their talents”.
The Governor called on wealthy Anambrairans and philantropists to help sponsor these kids by building sport facilities at the security level, and sponsoring these identified talents as part of their coperate social responsibilities.
Prof Soludo however assured that these talents once identified will be nurtured so as to become productive, improve their lives and grab a pace in the society for development.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon Patrick Agha Mba disclosed that tomorrow is interwoven with the events of today. And there is need to key in these young individuals into sporting activities so as to keep them out from the streets.
Adding that proper engagements and identifying that young talents will give will help harness their various potentials for development while commending the Anambra state sport development Agency and encourage the entire school to key in this wonderful project.
However, some of the schools present at the kick off were Community Secondary School Okpuno, Udeozo Memorial Primary School awka, Phrankstars High school Amawbia, and Iyiagu Primary School Awka.
Anambra House of Assembly Member and House Committe Chairman on Sports, Hon Ikedi Oji was also present at the conference.
