Positioning Abia youths for global recognition through sports: Otti’s smart approach
By Ogbonnaya Ikokwu
The power of sports as a tool for unity, national identity, and development can never be underestimated. Many heroes and heroines have risen from local communities to international prominence through their involvement and achievements in one sport or another.
Nigeria’s sports history provides ample evidence that sporting activities are not just about fun and leisure – they bring immense value to the country.
Sports offer international recognition, generate foreign income, and serve as a powerful platform for youth development.
Adequate investment in sports can create numerous employment opportunities for young people, thereby reducing youth restiveness, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, insurgency, and other criminal activities currently derailing many young lives in the country.
To achieve the bountiful gains from sports, governments at both the national and sub-national levels must be intentional in promoting policies and programmes aimed at identifying raw talents from an early stage and nurturing them to reach their full potential. Achieving meaningful results in this regard requires a series of deliberate and strategic actions.
Firstly, both Federal and State Governments must take steps to revive sporting competitions in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. Substantial attention must be paid to physical education through the provision of adequate infrastructure that will expose pupils and students to various sporting activities. This early exposure will help trainers identify areas of strength in young athletes.
In Abia State, youth and sports development is witnessing a serious transformation under the leadership of Gov. Alex Otti. Through the appointment of Hon. Nwaobilor Nwadimma Ananaba as Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, the ministry has been revitalized and positioned to fulfill its core mandate.
Available records show that the ministry has reintroduced Physical Education as a compulsory two-hour weekly program in primary and secondary schools. Inter-house and inter-school sports competitions, designed to expose students to both mainstream and lesser-known sports, are now an integral part of the school curriculum.
One of the government’s key initiatives is the introduction of the Gov. Alex Otti Unity Games, aimed at revitalizing grassroots sports and nurturing young talents from an early age.
The first and second editions of the Unity Games have already laid a solid foundation, producing world-class athletes and positioning Abia for global recognition as a hub of sports excellence.
The Unity Games initiative is already yielding results. Talents discovered during the first edition of the competition won a total of 31 medals at the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Ogun State, including seven gold, 12 silver, and 12 bronze. Some of them have already gained international exposure and secured scholarships.
Last year, six footballers were identified during a talent hunt organised in partnership with Hungarian scouts. Three of them are currently playing in Hungary.
In addition, a female player from Abia Angels is now studying and playing football on a scholarship in the United States. Another young player has been invited for trials by Barcelona FC’s second-tier club, and one of the state coaches is set to undergo training in Barcelona to become a certified scout.
At the last National Youth Games and Niger Delta Development Commission Games, Abia youths emerged victorious, clinching multiple gold medals and earning national recognition. These athletes have made the state proud.
The recently hosted Para-Badminton Tournament in Abia also brought new sporting heroes to light. Specially-abled athletes stunned observers with their excellence and resilience, as Abia State finished first on the table.
At the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France, Abia athletes won gold and silver medals, breaking world records and setting new personal bests.
The launch of community-based sports festivals across LGAs is uncovering more talents who may one day wear the national colours.
The New Abia Sports Stadium City, currently under construction, is more than a physical structure, it represents the administration’s commitment to building legacy institutions that will support future generations of champions.
According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, from September 30 to October 12, the state will host two historic international championships in Umuahia – the First Abia Para Badminton International and the All-African Para Badminton Championship.
This will be the first time a large-scale global sporting event is hosted in West Africa. It underscores the Abia State Government’s commitment to helping young people excel in their chosen sporting careers.
One of the most beautiful aspects of sports is that it benefits more than just the athlete – many careers are built around a single star athlete. Coaches, managers, trainers, lawyers, media professionals, and others find opportunities in the sports ecosystem, creating a ripple effect of success and empowerment.
Abia youths must key into the new sports initiative of Gov.Alex Otti and use it as a launchpad for global recognition and attainment of stardom.
The government must also prioritise the development of sporting facilities across public schools in the state. The number of qualified Physical and Health Education teachers must be raised to meet the manpower needs of this important sector.
#GovernorOttiIsBuildingTheNewAbia
#ToGodBeTheGlory
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu is a journalist and public affairs analyst writing from Umuahia.