Sports is an all-purpose vehicle that helps to engage the youth positively as well as provide financial security for the teeming youth population in the State.
This is the submission of the director of sports in the oil rich coastal State of Bayelsa, Braveman Wodi, in an exclusive interview with your authoritative and award-winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG at the Oti Hotel venue of the All-Nigeria Amazons Scrabble Championship in Benin City, Edo State, South-South, Nigeria.
Wodi explained that this is the vision of the number one citizen of the State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri who strongly believes that the youth hold the key to a prosperous nationhood.
“Our goal and mission in Bayelsa State is to engage the youths, make them the base of our development and sports is one of the vehicles we are using positively,” the Sports Director said.
Since, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri became the governor of Bayelsa State, the sporting land scape has changed, and the teeming youth population are keying into his vision and mission our investigation reveal.
Braveman Wodi stated that throughout the year Bayelsa State play host to various sports Federations’ programs and championships as well as training camp for technical officials across all the sports recognized in Nigeria.
“We hosted the Pre-season tournament for the Nigeria Premier Football League, the National Scrabble Championship and the Super Six Tournament for the Women’s League that produced the national champions – Edo Queens,” Wodi stated.
He went on to stress that it’s not just about competition alone, “We also adopt different exceptional athletes and put them on a comprehensive sponsorship or scholarship program.
Despite the difficult and harsh topography of the State, governor, Douye Diri has embarked on a massive construction new ultra-modern sports facilities and renovations of old ones.
In the area of facilities, the government of Bayelsa State is approaching it holistically:
✓ Providing an ultra-modern facility in the State capital
✓ Equip and provide standard stadia, sports hall in all the eight Local Government Area of the State
✓ Stage and host both local, national, regional and international development program
✓ Rewarding excellence and encouraging young aspiring athletes to blossom
Wodi, further emphasized that the youths are benefiting fully from all the platforms and programs the governor of the State is introducing through sports.
On the forthcoming coming National Youth Games, Braveman Wodi says they are ready, and they are heading to Asaba, Delta State to make a big and bold statement as has been the case in the last four years.
“You know, our current governor was a former Commissioner for Sports and that explains his interest in sports and in addition, he believes in engaging the youth positively.”
It’s noteworthy to mention that Bayelsa State has Honourable Daniel Igali, an Olympic Games gold medalist, a former World champion as a Commissioner for Sports and he is effectively translating the idea, plans and programs of the State in sports into reality.
The Director of Sports named the likes of wrestling Super women Blessing Okorodudu, Chess wizkid Deborah Quickpen are of the athletes on the state sponsorship and scholarship program.
Currently Bayelsa State is among the top five states in the area of sports development, and this is seen in their performance at the National Sports Festival, National Youth Games and other National Championships.
They have a club in the elite division of the male and female football leagues and the State is one of the very few States that host the head office of a national sporting Federation.
