THE Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation (NRCSF) on Tuesday said the sport would be a demonstration event at the Nzeh Mada Festival in Nasarawa State, to boost the sport at the grassroots.

Bunmi Oluode, Secretary of the federation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the objective of partnering with the organisers of the festival was to promote the sport at the grassroots.

Oluode said that the demonstration would feature only Kayak, while plans would be made to include sailing and rowing in subsequent editions of the festival.

“Our aim of partnership is to create awareness about water sports at the grassroots, in order to increase participation in the middle belt region and this is the first of its kind.

“It will also impact on the development of the sport, which is the target of the federation in ensuring that the sport gets the necessary awareness at the grassroots.

“All our events are scoring events in the National Sports Festival and carry not less than 20 medals, so having more states will make it more competitive,’’ she said.

Oluode, however, appealed to private bodies to give more support to the sport to enhance the activities of the federation.

NAN reports that the festival, which will hold on March 28 at the Rinze River in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa, began in 2014.

This year’s edition of the festival which is tagged “Peace, Perseverance and Partnership,’’ is a major festival of the Mada people of Akwanga.

– Mar. 27, 2018 @ 12:40 GMT |

BIE