Government bids farewell to team Nasarawa ahead of national youth games zonal eliminations.

 

The Nasarawa State Government has charged the State's contingent to the Zonal Eliminations of the National Youth Games to exceed all expectations by winning the available slots reserved for the North Central Zone in Team Sports ahead of the main Event in Asaba, Delta State, next month.

The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Jafaru Ango,  gave the charge on Thursday at the premises of the Ministry while bidding farewell to the contingent to Jos, Plateau State, where the Zonal Eliminations will take place.

Jafaru pointed out that the Governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration has invested so much in youth and sports in order to give young people and related stakeholders the opportunity to become productive and self-reliant and equally contribute their portion to the society.

"It's a thing of joy that we are going to participate in the Zonal Eliminations in Jos, Plateau State. This trip is being made possible by our sports-loving Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, through the his swift approval of adequate funds to prosecute the qualifying series.

"We must take advantage of our proximity to the Events' host to come back with breathtaking results in all the sports.

"This is a preparation for the main Events coming up next month in Asaba, Delta State. So, if you want to be at the main Events, you have to put in your best", he stated.

The Commissioner, while  congratulating the athletes for being selected among a pool of hundreds of talents in the State, admonished them to be worthy ambassadors of the State throughout the duration of the Zonal Eliminations.

"Nasarawa State is synonymous with discipline; You are all young boys and girls with so much prospects. Ensure you help to bring pride to the State, yourselves, and your families; Be good ambassadors and make sure you uphold the tenets and principles of what the State stands for as we won't tolerate any negative commentaries from Jos.

"On that note, on behalf of the Government and the good people of our noble Nasarawa State, I wish you a safe journey, good luck and hoping to seeing you back in flying colours."

Lending his voice, Permanent Secretary, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, disclosed that all entitlements for the travelling contingent to enable them have a successful outing in Jos have been provided by the State Government.

"Everything needed for your welfare has been provided by the Government. Therefore, to whom much is given, much is expected, and that's why we are going into the qualifiers with sports that we have comparative advantage.

"We are not going for a tea party but to make both the State and ourselves proud.

"We hope that before the end of the Governor Sule's tenure, some of the budding talents we have in sports would become good exports, because sports have become a multi-billion dollar business today."

Team Nasarawa will be going into the Zonal Eliminations with a total of 125-member contingent made up of 80 Athletes,  seven Coaches, seven Sports Secretaries, and twenty Accompanying Officials, and will feature in seven Team Sports events, namely, Football(Boys), Basketball(Boys),  Handball(Boys), Hockey(Boys and Girls) and Volleyball(Boys and Girls), with the Ministry's Director of Sports Organizing, Mr. Lawrence Shammah, leading the delegation.

The National Youth Games is for athletes below fifteen years with the Zonal Eliminations taking place from 28th to 31st  August, 2024, at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos, Plateau State.

Participating States at the North Central Zonal level include Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau(hosts) and F.C.T., Abuja.