C'River: 10th Assembly Laments Rot In Sports, Pledges Readiness Towards Resuscitation Of Sector
By Edem ITA
The Cross Rover House of Assembly Committee on Youths and Sports has pledged the readiness of the 10th Assembly to work assiduously with the Executive to resuscitate the dilapidating sporting facilities around the state, especially at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
Chairman of the House Committee, and Member representing Yakurr 11 State Constituency, Hon Mrs Mercy Akpama stated this after leading other members of the committee on an inspection of facilities at UJ Esuene Stadium.
The lawmaker expressed dismay at the deplorable state of the sporting arena once regarded as one of the best in the country during which it served as the home ground of Nigeria's national football teams.
Mrs. Akpama opined that "urgent intervention by government to arrest this systematic decay has become imperative, given the capacity of the sector to offer means of livelihood to our teeming youths across the state."
According to her"the potential of sports as a means of livelihood can not be overstressed. Given the budding talents which abound especially at the grassroots level across the state, the government needs to create the enabling environment for such upcoming athletes to hound their skills to appreciable levels in a bid to attract the necessary attention needed to usher them to the national or the global stage."
"What we have seen at the stadium today is pathetic and appalling, bearing in mind that the UJ Esuene was once the toast of the sporting community in the country. We need to galvanize human and material resources to rejig the sector to enable our state to restore its lost glory in the sporting spectrum."
In his remarks, the Director of Sports in the Cross River Sports Commission, Coach Moses Ita lauded the committee for the inspection visit noting that the occasion with equip the lawmakers with first-hand information on the peculiar challenges and needs of the Commission to ensure informed legislative interventions.
Speaking after conducting the team around facilities, the hockey coach in the Commission, Dr Macfalan Ejah appealed for drastic measures to revamp the sport sector in the state which he explained is on the brink of collapse due to prolong neglect and managerial inadequacies.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, of the Ministry of Sports and Cinematography, Mr. Ogboaka Okwenda said his ministry is disposed to collaborating with critical stakeholders to guarantee the attainment of set targets for the overall interest of the state.
Other members of the House Committee who were on hand during the facility tour were Hon. Stanley Nsemo, Victor Nsa, and Omang Oman
