BY TERKURA AKAA SAKERA
MAKURDI
A delegation from the National Sports Commission (NSC) on Wednesday presented the Torch of Unity to the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, ahead of the National Sports Festival, Ogun 2025, also known as “Gateway Games”
The delegation led by Ikana Mbora, said the presentation of the Torch of Unity to the governor was an invitation for Benue state to participate at the Festival and also signalled the count down to the festival.
The presentation to Governor Alia, signifies the countdown to the National Sports Festival, which is slated to hold from 16th to 30th May, 2025.
Mbora who assured that the games promises to be a rewarding experience, pointed out that a wide range of sporting activities would be featured during the festival among them football.
She said, “The National Sports Festival, tagged “Gateway Games,” promises to be a rewarding experience, as it would be featuring a wide range of sporting activities which would include football, handball volleyball, basketball, and many other games.
Mbora also noted that thousands of athletes from various states of the federation would be participating at the festival that is expected to showcase the best of Nigerian sports talents.
Responding, Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr Sam Ode, was of the view that the Torch represents the spirit of unity, peace, and sporting excellence that defines the National Sports Festival as it begins its journey across the country.
Ode, who said that the visit was a mark of unity that would unite sports lovers across the country and solidify national cohesion, called on investors to come and invest in the state’s sporting activities.
He observed that “This torch of unity undoubtedly symbolizes our shared aspirations and collective identity, and it is with great honor that I receive it today on behalf of the people’s governor.
“The Torch of Unity’s movement represents the spirit of unity, peace, and sporting excellence that defines the National Sports Festival. As the torch begins its journey across the country, it embodies the anticipation and excitement building up to the festival.
“I want to let you know that no preceding governors of Benue state has supported the development of sports as Governor Alia has done by investing huge resources into the sector, especially football.
“We want to call on investors to come and invest in sporting activities of the state, because sports is an industry, so we are looking at it beyond recreational or social activities but as a business and we are going to diversify to other sporting activities like volleyball, handball, table tennis among others to hunt for talents that will represent the state.
Ode also commended the leadership of Sport Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), under the leadership of its Chairman, Hembadoon Orsar, for their resilience in promoting sports activities and sports development of the Alia administration through their reportage.
Furthermore, he assured the SWAN chairman that government would continued to support the union, stating that government would make a special commitment for the full representation of SWAN at Ogun 2025.
Ode, also commended the Commissioner of Sports, Youths Development and Creativity, Terkimbi Ikyange and the management of Lobi Stars Football Club led by the Chairman, Dr Philip Nongo, for their doggedness in the face of the daunting challenges of playing outside their home.
He said, “I want to laud the resilience of the Lobi Stars Chairman for his efforts so far, I want to tell you here that playing outside your state as your home is not easy, fans can easily turn against you at any point in time, but we believe that in a short possible time the McCarthy stadium will be ready.”
