Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development as a means of discovering talents, empowering youths and promoting unity across the state.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Hamisu Gumel, the governor made the pledge on Sunday during the grand finale of the Inter-Ward Football Competition in Hadejia.
Speaking at the event, Namadi described the tournament as a major milestone in the state’s grassroots sports development efforts, noting that it provided young people with opportunities to showcase their talents, build friendships and develop their potential.
He said every participant in the competition was a winner because the tournament created a platform for youth engagement and talent discovery.
The governor recalled that one of the first decisions of his administration was to direct the Ministry of Information, Youth, Sports and Culture to establish a structured grassroots sports development programme.
According to him, the initiative has already begun to yield positive results with the emergence of the Jigawa Junior Golden Stars, a team made up of indigenous players currently competing in the Nigeria Nationwide League One.
Namadi said the team’s success had validated the state’s grassroots sports policy and pledged to replicate the model across other sporting disciplines.
“We will continue to strengthen sports development by identifying and nurturing talents from the grassroots while creating opportunities for our young people to realise their full potential,” he said.
The governor also directed the Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture to rehabilitate and upgrade the Hadejia Township Stadium within six months to provide improved sporting facilities for athletes in the area.
He commended the sponsors of the competition and praised the ministry, participating teams, match officials and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful organisation of the tournament.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition featured teams from the 11 wards of Hadejia Local Government Area and was sponsored by the state’s Accountant-General, Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu.
GRA Ward emerged champions after defeating Sabon Garu Ward in the final to lift the trophy.
Speaking at the event, Shehu said the tournament was organised to promote unity among young people while providing a platform for discovering and nurturing football talents at the grassroots.
He commended the Namadi administration for prioritising youth empowerment through sports, describing the state’s grassroots sports policy as a catalyst for producing future champions and strengthening social cohesion.
Source:NAN
