ASSDC Charges 16 Sports Associations to Partner Anambra Govt in Sports Development

By Ikemefuna Asika

Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ASSDC) on Thursday charged the newly inaugurated 16 sports associations to work closely with the state government in grassroots sports development.

While performing the inauguration ceremony at the conference room of the Commission, Patrick-Estate Onyedum, Chairman of ASSDC tasked the new associations to give priority attention to grassroots sports development.

He stated that Gov. Chukwuma Soludo promised the people of Anambra State in his manifesto that his administration would give the youth opportunity through sports and that he was already fulfilling the promise with the return of school sports festival.

He recalled that the school sports (ANSI) has helped the State to improve in various sporting competitions such the National Youth Games were the State’s performance has continue to improve in medal hauls.

He stated that the inauguration was in fulfillment of the resolve to reposition sports in the State for greater productivity and ensure that more talents were discovered and nurtured at the grassroots.

Onyedum called on various Association Chairmen to see it as a clarion call to partner the State in moving sports to greater height.

Director of Sports in the Commission, Emeka Obidima reminded the Chairmen that they should also priorities the welfare of athletes as it will go a long way in encouraging them.

Responding on behalf of the newly inaugurated board members, Obiajulu Nwoye, Vice, Chairman of Handball Association appreciated the Anambra government and the Sports Development Commission management for constituting the associations.

Nwoye said it would be a new dawn for sports in Anambra while noting that the state must ensure that athletes welfare was prioritised in order to get the desired progress.

In a brief remark, Engr. Dominic Okafor, member representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the National Assembly said he was happy with the inauguration.

Okafor who is the patron of Badminton Association said he was already contributing to the progress of the sport adding that the indoor sports hall he was building which will have other sporting facilities other than badminton would be completed in no distant time.

He called on the various Associations to reach out to other members of the National Assembly from Anambra State with a view of helping to develop more sporting activities including infrastructures.

Highpoint of the event was the issueance of letters to the various Association Chairmen that were present.

The inaugurated associations include Anambra Tennis Association, Anambra Table Tennis Association, Anambra Basketball Association, Anambra Cricket Association, Anambra Handball Association, Anambra Badminton Association and Anambra Golf Association

Others were Anambra Wrestling Association, Anambra Aquatics Association, Anambra Volleyball Association, Anambra Judo Association, Anambra Boxing Association, Anambra Taekwondo Association, Anambra Scrabble Association, Anambra Chess Association and Anambra Weightlifting Association.