By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia – Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Monday received the Torch of Unity for the forthcoming 20th National Sports Festival in Ede.
A delegation from the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development led by its Southeast Coordinator, Mrs Jane Owoh, presented the Torch of Unity to the state commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Chief Emeka Ikwuagwu, who handed it to the governor at the Government House, Umuahia.
Speaking during the event, Ikpeazu said the State government was poised to do everything as a government to encourage Abia athletes to record a successful outing during the festival.
He charged Abia athletes to apply discipline and resilience in preparation for the event.
He urged Abia athletes and sports officials in the state to exercise the highest level of commitment toward preparing for the National Sports Festival in order to make the state proud.
According to him, we are not just going to participate, but we are participating to win. We pray that every athlete that will participate in this festival will not suffer injury.
The governor said that the importance of sports in the socio-economic growth of the nation could not be over emphasised, adding that the festival would facilitate sports development.
In an interview with newsmen, Owoh said that Abia was the second state to receive the Torch of Unity since its arrival in the Southeast region on Feb. 28.
She described the Torch of Unity as a symbol of national unity and a sign that Federal Government was prepared to sponsor the festival.
“We are here to present the Torch of Unity to Abia government and alert them about the upcoming National Sports Festival.
“We want to find out if Abia is ready, if the athletes are in camp and if they have been training to make this zone proud,” Owoh added.
News Agency of Nigerian(NAN) reports that the 20th National Sports Festival is slated to hold from March 22 through April 2 in Edo.
(NAN)
