Abia Govt. set to host national volleyball championship
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
Abia state Governor, Alex Otti, is hosting the Nigerian National Volleyball Federation Division One and Two Championship phase two taking place in Umuahia the state capital.
Speaking to journalists on the competition in Umuahia the state capital on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr Nwaobilor Ananaba said governor Otti remains resolutte in making Abia the sports destination.
He said that since the inception of Gov. Otti’s administration many sports federations are identifying with Abia state with various sports events.
According to him, “Abia will be number one destination for sports in the near future. In terms of sports tourism, business of sports and we are working towards it. As you can see, everybody wants to come to Abia state.
“Almost all the states now want to come to Abia state for us to host one event or the other. Since His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti assumed office, he has been doing fantastic things in all the sectors including the sports sector.
“We are excited to welcome the whole nation for the Volleyball Championship Division One and Two”.
He said Abia is prepared for the competition, disclosing that in terms of facilities, Gov Otti approved the renovation of the indoor hall of the stadium which is now in international standard. He added that the athletes are ready to participate and expressed the hope that Team Abia would do well in the competition.
The Commissioner urged the athletes to work hard assuring that the Governor is willing to reward any athlete that performs excellently.
Also, the State Director of Sports , Comrade Obioma George, disclosed that the competition would commence Thursday, October 10 with arrival of athletes and would last through 20th October.
He revealed that 19 states are expected to be in Abia for the competition. According to him,
He said, “You know before now things were topsy turvy in the state sports council Abia, but the coming of Gov. Alex Chioma Otti has sincerely turned things around in the sports sector in the State.
“So far in Abia state, the state is waxing strong starting from when the state organised the secondary school games which was just like a foundation.
“The Governor is interested, the Commissioner is interested in developing sports”.
In his contribution, an international volleyball referee and 1st Vice of Chairman of the Nigerian Volleyball Association, Muhammed Muhammed, while assuring of fair officiating in the competition commended Gov. Otti for his interest in sports development in Nigeria.
“It is not every state or every G
governor that has the interest to promote sports at heart, but from what we have seen, the state has sponsored many competitions before now.“
Even in the last two months , the state sponsored the South South / South East Volleyball Championship”, he said.