Sports
Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo, on Wednesday in Benin said the present state government is on a mission to revolutionise sports in its domain.
Shaibu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) policies were in place to maintain the gymnasium hall which has just been equipped with new facilities.
“Edo is back to its number one position, and Edo is the traditional home of sports in Nigeria.
“Edo has been on recess for a long time and the governor of Edo has reawakened that consciousness in our people by putting in place this infrastructure.
“Also, by bringing out policies that will not only work now but which are also sustainable policies even after this government.
“So, when I say there is a sports revolution taking place in Edo, I am not refering to only gymnastics or football but the entire sports.
“We have had 38 sports during this ‘Edo 2020’ and there was no clash of any of the activities and everything was evenly spread.
“This is to tell you that our facility development programme is not fixed but spread to all sports,’’ he said.
Shaibu, whose state recorded the highest number of medals in gymnastics —- 27 in total —- at the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF), lauded his team for their performance.
He added that the facilities at the gymnasium venue would aid the preparation of the Nigerian team to the Olympics.
“It makes me feel so great. In the last sports festival in Abuja, their performance was the same.
“It shows that gymnastics has come to stay in Edo and we are the best in the country presently. You can see it from the facilities we have here.
“These are world-class facilities, the latest of all equipment as far as gymnastics is concerned in the world.
“ These facilities are the same facilities our Olympic team will be using at the Olympics in Tokyo in July.
“So, for us, it is a huge investment and I am excited that at this NSF the athletes were able to show that that Edo is the home of gymnastics,’’ he added.(NAN)
– Apr. 14, 2021 @ 19:28 GMT
Tags: Deputy Governor says Edo on a mission to revolutionise sports
