Uyo – The organiser of the ongoing Schools Athletics Holiday Camping and Training Programme in Akwa Ibom,
Paul Bassey, has appealed to corporate organisations in the country to further support sports.
Bassey who made the call on Tuesday in Uyo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that this would be part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
He said it was imperative that the development of sports should not be left to government alone.
“Western countries have better sporting facilities than Nigeria because of the private sector support and participation in sports development.
“Government cannot shoulder alone the responsibilities of consistently organising competitions which will help in discovering new talents.
“That is why I remain grateful to Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) for providing this platform through which we are grooming the young ones who will represent the country in the future and come back as international champions.
“They are already champions in their own right. So, we have come here to further develop them for future competitions.
“This training programme is further to expose them to new techniques which will help them in any competition they face,’’ Bassey said.
He said quality athletics coaches had assembled in Uyo to mentor the students on how to succeed as athletes.
Bassey commended the immediate-past governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, for ensuring the construction of a world-class stadium in Uyo.
He urged the present administration in the state to construct an indoor sports hall, swimming pool and other components which would be used to produce champions in other areas of sports.
“The importance of having this stadium in our state cannot be quantified because, in 10 years’ time, champions who were discovered from this ground will be too numerous to count.
“Investing in sports is the key thing in the world and having this platform makes it easier for those who have interest in developing their career.”
Bassey commended parents whose wards were currently in Uyo for the Holiday Camping sponsored by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN).
He assured them that they would not regret the training programme.
NAN reports that the camping programme which started on Aug. 17 will end on Aug. 31.(NAN)