Gov Uzodimma Through Sports Commissioner Motivates Imo Athletes @ 2024 NYG, Asaba

 

..Pays All Allowances For Optimum Performance 

..Expresses Optimism of More Medals 

The Imo State Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma has continued to demonstrate his love and passion for sports and youth development by motivating the Imo contingent at the 2024 National Youth Games NYG, in Asaba Delta State.

The State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Obinna Everestus Onyeocha while interacting with sports journalists at the games in Asaba on Sunday, said the Governor has paid through his office and the Imo Sports Commission all allowances of the athletes with the view of ensuring optimum and concentrated participation.

"Yes, my State, Imo is in full participation here at the National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State. We are here with athletes taking part in about  31 Games including Para-sports. We have ball games, male and female, Chess, boxing, karate, and athletics. We have already won a 2 gold medals from Cycling and Silver from Karate as well as 3 bronze medals. We could not play most of our games yesterday (Saturday)but will play today (Sunday). We are expecting more success and medals. So, by the end of this tournament, Imo will go high on the medal table to make our people happy and proud. 

"His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo State in a.bid to motivate the athletes and to show his passion for sports and youth development has paid all allowances; i mean, all, to both the athletes and the officials. The officials' Duty Travelling Allowances (DTA) and other rights and privileges are available and released to the Director of Sports who is here in Asaba with me and who deals directly with the officials and athletes. This, as you said, was to boost Morales of the athletes and give the officials hope. It is also to motivate all in line with the governor's commitment in recent years to develop sports in the state.

 Concerning the supposed viral video which some persons are using to discredit Imo, with what you all have been seen here in Asaba, can you sincerely agree with that video and whoever made it?. Some topics most often do not need our responses, especially when coming from an aggrieved journalist. At the right time, we shall do whatever is required to make progress. So, the truth you seek, and I'm sure you know, is that Imo athletes were not stranded and abandoned in Owerri. Imo athletes are here with me in Asaba winning medals and making themselves and our state proud.

"Well, Imo is still a strong force in sports. Imo is a breeding base as well as an exporting hub of sports men and women for National and international use. That is to show that we are still very very strong. Also, His Excellency, the Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma is working very hard to raise the bar, Perhaps that is what you meant. Imo needs to make more efforts and Gov Uzodinma is doing a lot in trying to attend to some of the infrastructural and administarottive rot Imo sporting sector. You can see the new look of the football pitch at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, including the lighting equipment for night outing. You can see the unveiling of a new Technical Manager in the person of Mr. Emmanuel Amunike for the state's owned team, Heartland FC, etc. Even sponsoring these hundreds of Athletes to ASABA here shows the governor's deep and renewed interest in developing sports in the state. So, Imo's glory remains with us. But we are going to do better.

"We are working hard for development, after this tournament, we shall be identifying the champions among them for further developments. This is our charge from the governor. In few weeks from now, we shall be heading to Ogun for another major competition. Our state came top and representing the South-East in the recently concluded Team Sports in ENUGU. We are harvesting these players and athletes for grooming into future world champions. So, you can see that the governor is not resting. Admitted there shall always be some bottleneck challenges, but they are normal. The country is equally going through similar challenges, but ours is better because we have Hope. The road to the future is better.