Enugu – Ebere Amaraizu, the Sports Officer, Enugu State Police Command, has described the media as the bedrock of sports’ development in the country.
Amaraizu said this after he received the “Best Sports Administrators Award’’ from the State Commissioner for Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, on Monday in Enugu.
He said that media coverage and projection had made sports to be an important instrument for social development and re-orientation both at the local, state, zonal and national levels.
“I thank sports journalists and the entire media for their support to sports’ growth and development, especially, football.
“Enugu State has done well and is, still, doing well at all levels of the sports.
“I appeal to the media not to relent; since it remains the bedrock of sports’ development in every society.
“The media-packaging and reportage have given most sports and sports competitions the present socio-political and economic clouts they command,’’ he said.
Amaraizu, who is also the team manager of Crime Busters FC, Enugu, said that the award would spur him to get to the top of sports administration and management.
He said that sports administration and management was never an easy task; adding that “it is capital intensive’’.
“However, despite the hurdles, the command has been able to stand tall in sports.
“I applaud some past commissioners of police in the state for their roles which formed the basis of the success.
“The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, has remained a motivator with what he has done to continuously encourage athletes to excel in their various sporting activities and competitions,’’ he said.
Earlier, Ojukwu had said that the award and recognition were to encourage and commend the command’s sports men and women that had made it proud.
“This command will continue to reward excellence and ensure we stand out at the zonal and national levels,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 40 officers and men from the command were honoured with awards and presented with certificates of commendation.
The command’s contingent came first during the zonal police games held in Enugu.
It also formed the bulk of Zone 9 contingent to the National Police Games held in Abuja early in the year.
Zone 9 comprised of police state commands in Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo States. (NAN)