Abuja – Clare Barell, Leader of the United Kingdom Rowing Team to Nigeria, has said that the team would train coaches and observers in Nigeria on the technicalities of the sport.
This is contained in a statement signed by Tolu Makinda, Director of Press, Ministry of Youth and Sports, on Friday in Abuja.
Barell said that the team, which visited the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, was in Nigeria as part of its efforts toward developing rowing.
She appealed to the minister to help in creating interest in the game through investment in the development of relevant local technologies and manpower for the game.
In his contribution, President of Rowing Federation of Nigeria, Festus Porbeni, said that the team was in the country as part of Olympic Solidarity to train 12 technical officials.
Probeni appealed to the minister to help to establish regional and continental federations and competitions as deliberate efforts to promote the sport.
He said that the UK federation had helped Nigeria to build Rowing Clubs in three locations in Lagos state – University of Lagos Water Front, Nigeria Navy Sailing and BISC Boat Club in Lekki.
He said that the team was planning to extend its drive to Jabi Lake in Abuja and Rayfield in Jos, Plateau.
In his response, Dalung the minister was committed to partnering with the United Kingdom Rowing and Sports Federation to develop the game in Nigeria.
He expressed gratitude with the plan by the UK mission in Nigeria to partner the sports ministry as part of the Olympic Committee solidarity. (NAN)
