A’Ibom: Lawmaker reiterates need to enliven school sports

KufreAbasi Edidem, the Deputy Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, has reiterated the need for stakeholders to collaborate towards enlivening school sports in the state.

Edidem made the statement in Uyo on Friday while hosting Inyene Umoh and Deborah Bassey, two Akwa Ibom school girls who were members of the Nigeria’s U-19 Women Cricket Team.

Umoh and Bassey were part of the Junior Yellow Greens, who represented Nigeria at the ICC T20 World Cup in Malaysia between Jan. 18 and Feb. 2.

The team conquered Ireland and New Zealand to secure a automatic qualification for the 2026 championship.

The lawmaker who commended the team for its brilliant performance, said that enlivening school sports was a good way to promote youth development.

Edidem, who represents Itu Constituency in the state assembly thanked the young cricket team for making the nation proud.

“Your performance at the event only tells us to enliven school sports. We can’t be taking about youth development if school sports is not given adequate attention.

“It is time for stakeholders to collaborate towards using school sports to bring out the talents around us, we have a lot to gain from it,” he said.

He commended Umoh and Bassey for “flying Akwa Ibom’s flag well’ and being good ambassadors of the state.

“You have made yourselves proud, the glory also goes to your school. Infact, it is a positive publicity for our dear state,” he said.

The deputy speaker charged sports administrators in the state to prioritise long-term sports development in public schools, in order to achieve sustainable talent growth.

In his remarks, Emmanuel Ebong, the Director of School Sports, Akwa Ibom Ministry of Education, thanked the deputy speaker for being a pillar of support to the young cricketers

He said Akwa Ibom was blessed with abundant sports talents, saying, “if well groomed, these talents will win national and global laurels”