Sports

Rivers International Marathon: A Gateway to Global Spotlight on River State, Says Governor Fubara

Published

9 months ago

February 7, 2024

…Promising Talent Cultivation and Economic Boost

Joel Ajayi

Governor Similanayi Fubara of Rivers State has unequivocally affirmed that the upcoming Rivers State International Marathon is poised to captivate the global spotlight and shine a positive light on the state.

His declaration came during a meticulously organized press conference in Port Harcourt, River State, aimed at updating the media on the extensive lineup of activities slated for the international marathon, set to take place on May 18, 2024.

Represented by the esteemed Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Barrister Christopher Green elaborated on the multifaceted benefits of the international marathon. He underscored
its pivotal role in combating social vices, particularly among the youth, citing the allure of cash prizes as a compelling incentive for young participants.

Furthermore,the commissioner emphasized the ripple effect of talent discovery that the event promises, foreseeing a surge in local talent development as a direct result of participation.

Expanding on the economic front, the governor highlighted the myriad opportunities that will emerge for local businesses during the marathon’s preparation phase and on the event day itself. Anticipating brisk commercial activity, Barrister Green envisaged a boost to the state’s economy, with local enterprises poised to thrive amidst the influx of participants and spectators.

Crucially, the marathon serves as a powerful platform to showcase the state’s exemplary security credentials. As international athletes descend upon Nigeria from various corners of the globe, they will bear witness to Rivers State’s status as a secure haven, thereby dispelling any lingering doubts and bolstering investor confidence in the region’s safety.

Moreover, beyond its economic and security implications, the marathon provides an invaluable opportunity to celebrate and showcase the rich cultural heritage of Rivers State. By spotlighting indigenous traditions and customs, the event promises to invigorate the tourism sector, enticing visitors to explore the state’s vibrant tapestry of cultures.

Echoing the governor’s sentiments, project consultant Femi Abegunde of Arch Raphael Limited lauded the marathon as a trailblazing endeavor that sets a benchmark for future athletic endeavors in Nigeria and beyond. He underscored the inclusivity of the event, with special provisions made to accommodate and challenge indigenous athletes to surpass existing records set by their Nigerian counterparts in marathons nationwide.

Abegunde went further by revealing the plan for local athletes saying the introduction of the Nigerian elite prize tag underscores the commitment to fostering local talent and elevating the country’s standing in the global marathon community. As Governor Fubara reaffirmed, the Rivers State International Marathon is not merely a race; it is a catalyst for positive change, uniting communities, promoting athleticism, and propelling Rivers State onto the world stage with pride and distinction

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Sports

Fresh Air, As Dikko Resumes As NSC Chairman, Unveils 3-Pillar For Sports Growth

Published

54 mins ago

October 30, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The newly appointed Chairman of National Sports Commision Malam Shehu Dikko on Wednesday officially assumed office unveiled 3 Pillars to growth sport sector.

Just last week President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission.

Speaking shortly in Abuja after outgoing Minister of Sports Senator John Enoh officially handed over the affairs of the Country’s Sports to him in a brief ceremony in Abuja.

He expressed that the Country’s journey towards a sustainable Sports Economy has begun.

According to him, history has a way of coming full circle because in 2008 I was a consultant to the House of Representatives and was responsible for the drafting of the National Sports Commission Bill and about 16 years down the line i have here with the assignment to implement the work I assisted to put together”.

“The objective of Mr President is to harness the full potentials of the Sports Economy in Nigeria”.

“And we have to first change our mindset from the fixation of just competitions and winning medals and come back and fix our Domestic Sports Development”.

“When we set the foundation right the results and the winning of medals will naturally come in a sustainable manner and that should be the new mindset”.

“We cannot continue to run in cycles so we need to have a different approach from day one because in my view and indeed the view of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, competitions is what we call “Consumption” because we just take scarce resources and burn out abroad without any impact on the domestic sports development and the Nigerian Economy.

“But we have to go back to “Production” which is deliberate Sports Development, where we set the structure right, set the framework and put together good parameters to have a sustainable Sports Development which will naturally give us a solid Sports Economy and indeed guaranteed competitive participation at all competitions and medals.

“This is the reason why our administration will be focus on three Pillars including running Sports as a National Asset, that is entitled to special privileges, regulations and concessions to drive growth and development to open its potentials to be a key driver of the economy across all sectors, a vehicle for achieving national cohesion and projection of the positive and unique attributes of our culture and national identity “.

” We have to also work on Legislations and Regulations so as to set the framework to enable the Industry to grow effectively like what happened in the communications industry some years back”.

” The other Pillar is investing in purposeful world class infrastructures that will provide an enabling environment for Growth. These infrastructures must be deliberate with maintenance culture and span from world class infrastructure for professional sports to community infrastructure to drive grassroots sports and mass participation across the country.

” The thinking of Mr President is that , after having some of all these in place we should be able to measure the Country’s Sports by its contribution to the nation’s GDP by at least three percent and the number of jobs sports and its value chain are providing in country in the next four to five years and indeed our competitiveness across all competitions and tournaments.

Thus it’s a fantastic decision for Mr. President to approve the return of the National Sports Comission to drive the process and objectives in line to the best international practices and standards devoid of any beureucratic bottlenecks but absolute professionalism.”

In his remark, the outgoing Sportst Minister Senator John Enoh expressed: “For me it’s farewell, it’s bye bye and for mallam shehu Dikko it’s welcome that is what life is all about, there is time for everything.

He however thumbed president Tinubu for scrapping Sports Ministry and bring back the NSC to enable sports to grow in the country, saying that the decision remain a great positive that will grow Sports.

On his remark, the most senior staff of the ministry, Director of Medicine Paul Onyedo pledged staff support to work with incoming Chairman to the best of their ability. “We are ready to give our best.”

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