Abia State capital, Umuahia, came alive on Friday, when students from across Abia State gathered at the township stadium for a maiden school sports programme christened ‘Governor’s Secondary Schools Unity Games.’
 
The five-day competition, flagged off by Governor Alex Otti, is featuring over 1,800 students in a six-day competition in 24 games, including football, basketball, athletics, tennis, table tennis and handball, among other events.
 
The participants are lodged in schools hostels in Umuahia from where they move to the stadium everyday for competition. While declaring the event open, Governor Otti announced that he has set up mechanisms to revive inter-house competitions and other sports championships, where talented youngsters would be identified and nurtured for future national and international competitions.
 
Otti directed principals of secondary schools to regularise inter-house competitions in their schools, adding that the state’s ministries of Youths and Sports and Education are working towards restoring Physical and Health Education in the schools.
 
The governor added that his administration is setting up a sports institute in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Council, which would pave way for sports to be run as a professional venture in the state, adding that his government is in talks with both foreign and local investors to develop the sports sector.
 
Otti urged corporate bodies, stakeholders in sports and development partners to key into the state’s programme for sports development to further harness the potentials in the state’s youths.
 
“I am especially delighted to welcome everyone, who has joined us to witness the kick off of the maiden Governor’s Unity Games in the state, where champions from the 17 Local Councils will compete among themselves for laurels in 24 sporting events.
 
“What we have started with these games is a signal to what we want to do for the entire sports ecosystem in the state. We have recently developed a comprehensive grassroots sports programme that will involve the development of sports infrastructure, training and exposure of talented athletes to life changing opportunities and platforms.
 
“We are already in talks with local and foreign partners to commence the pilot phase of the programme, which will see us build model sports centres in communities and urban neighborhoods, where kids and teenagers with talents and interest in pursuing careers in sports would be taught the ropes by accomplished professionals through structured programmes.”  He urged the students to approach the games with the goal to win, while tasking the officials to be fair to all teams.
 
Earlier, the state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Nwaobilor Ananaba, affirmed that Otti is intentional about what he wants to do in Abia State, especially in promoting grassroots sports.
 
He said: “The governor approved sports in schools and sports competitions among students, which led to the maiden Governor’s Unity Games among secondary schools in the state; we appreciate him for sponsoring and procuring sports equipment for this purpose.”
 
Also speaking at the flag off of the games, the state’s Director of Sports, Obioma George, who noted that the event was the first in the state’s history, thanked Governor Otti for his interest in the youths.
 
“Since the creation of Abia State, this is the first time in its history that secondary schools are converging in Umuahia, the state capital, for the secondary schools’ games and with the state governor, Dr. Alex Otti, coming in person to declare the competition open.
 
“So far, we have recorded 1,840 students, who are ready for competition, which shows that we are set to commence competition,” he said.