…doles out N2m
The Kwara State Government has promised to introduce an institutionalised football competition at primary school level to identify and nurture talents for future championships.
The state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed disclosed this on Wednesday when he received the victorious 2018 Channels International Kids Cup, LGEA Central Primary School, Kaiama at the Government House, Ilorin.
He said the state is poised to supporting the talented kids to develop their skills and excel at highest levels, as he rewarded the team with the sum of N2m for winning the championship.
The governor promised to support the victorious pupils to move to Kwara Football Academy to build career in the game of soccer.
According to him, the government will give access to the kids to improve on their football skills and educational pursuit to make them successful as future footballers.
He commended the kids for recognising the opportunity as starting point to be disciplined Kwarans, Nigerians and Africans.
He explained that sports had gone beyond entertainment to physical well being and wealth creation, saying that the state would continue to drive sports development from grassroots to restore the state’s lost glory in sports.
The governor, who commended the sponsor of the victorious team, Mr. Tanko Mahmud for his support and challenged wealthy individuals and corporate bodies to partner the state in investing in the sports sector.
Speaking earlier, the State Chairman, Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Jimoh Lambe had thanked Governor Ahmed for his support to the success of the state’s delegation to Channels International Kids Cup.
Alhaji Lambe said the kids had raised the glory of the state with the success achieved in the championship.
Also speaking, the Team Leader, Mrs. Olaide Olanrewaju appealed to the state governor to give necessary support to the kids and their Coach with a view to identifying and nurturing talents across the state.
