Maduako Igbokwe l Sunday, February 23, 2020
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Uche Ekwunife and Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Uche Okafor want the youths to actively participate in sporting activities.
They said if youths actively participate in sports they would be fully engaged have and no time for other things that do not benefit them positively. They made the call during an official inauguration of Johnbosco Onunkwo Premium Lawn Tennis Court at the Awka City Sport Club Yard, Awka, the Anambra state capital.
The tennis court was built by Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo Foundation and donated to the Awka City Sports Club. According to them, getting the youths actively involved in sports activities would help to curb the menace of crimes ravaging the country today.
They said when youths are positively engaged and intimated with the need to develop their sporting talents, they will not be involved again in activities of political thugs and other vices.
Performing the official commissioning of sports facility, Ngige commended Onunkwo’s effort towards the development of sports in Anambra State and Nigeria. According to Ngige, the project would go a long way in reviving sporting activities in the state and Nigeria. Ngige said, he was happy and impressed at seeing old men and women in their 70s looking 40s in a tennis court built by a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.
He appealed for the state sports commision to sensitise the youths on the need to join the sports industry for global competition. Uche Ekwunife, impressed by the efforts of Onunkwo, promised to build one or two structure in the club to attract youths participation.
According to her, sport is one of the major means of checkmatining youth restivenes and criminalities and also creating wealth and jobs for the youths.
The state Chairman of APC, Chief Basil Ejidike, who also spoke at the occasion, described the project as a welcomed development, urging well to do Nigerians, especially politicians to look beyond political affiliations in contributing towards the overall development of of the citizenry. Engr. Onunkwo, in his remarks, expressed thanks to God for the opportunity given to him to be able contribute to the society.
“This project is part of our commitment towards encouraging sports development in the state and the country. We can’t excel in sports if we don’t have enabling environment and facilities . My foundation deemed it important to start off with the construction of the Premium Court for youths engagement in sports” he said.
According to him, sports development is at the epicentre of his human capital development, he sets out to achieve for over many years ago. He called on wealthy individuals in the state and beyond to invest in sports as a way of arresting youths unemployment and restivenes.
According to him, one does not need to be in government before contributing to the development of the society. Speaking, the Chairman of the Awka City Sport Club, Chief Emeka Obidike who was full of appreciation for Onunkwo promised to put the facility to best use.
