From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Youth and Sports Development has called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to urgently revamp the Akwanga Sports Academy, the country’s only multi-sports secondary school.
The lawmakers made the call yesterday during an oversight visit to youth and sports facilities across the state.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, said the Academy, located in Akwanga Local Government Area, combines academics with intensive athletic programmes and has produced international stars such as Sunusi Ibrahim of Montreal Impact in Canada and Deborah Abiodun of the University of Pittsburgh Women’s Soccer Team in the United States.
“Unfortunately, the land has been encroached on by locals, major infrastructure vandalised or decayed, the school has inadequate teaching staff, while the classrooms and offices are an eyesore,” Isimbabi lamented.
He added that the lack of a perimeter fence, poor learning environment, and absence of sports equipment have crippled the Academy.
“This is a great facility in the Governor’s Local Government Area, and we know what this could do for the pool of talents that abound in the state. Revamping the Sports Academy would greatly impact sports development in the state and the country at large. For now, we are declaring a state of emergency on the Sports Academy, Akwanga,” he said.
The Committee also inspected facilities in Lafia, Keffi, Akwanga, and Karu, where they recommended urgent government action.
Accompanying the lawmakers, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, pledged that the Governor remains committed to upgrading and constructing sports facilities.
“After this visit, I will adequately brief him and rest assured that he will oblige to your recommendations. We all want a Nasarawa State of our dream, and Governor Abdullahi Sule, who is not afraid of breaking the banks, has already begun the journey,” Yakubu said.
The oversight tour, part of the Ministry’s third quarter budget review, also featured courtesy visits to the Chairmen of Akwanga, Keffi and Karu LGAs, and the Esu Karu, HRH Luka Panya Baba.
