2020 National Sports Festival: Umahi Receives Touch Of Unity

From Einstein Chukwu.

Ebony State Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi has received “Torch of Unity” an event meant to herald National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Benin City, the Edo State capital in March this year.
The “Torch of Unity” which arrived at the Salt of the Nation, Ebonyi State on Friday 28th February 2020, was received by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ugbala Kenneth Igwe, on behalf of His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi.

Addressing the national sports team from Abuja, the Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue supporting and providing the enabling environment for the development of sports at all levels and called on sports-loving youths and enthusiasts to take advantage of the adoption campaign to be part of raising the banner of sports in Ebonyi State and Nigeria at large.

 “I am pleased to receive the National Sports Festival 'Torch of Unity'. I want to inform us that we still believe in Nigeria. This torch is a symbolic representation of unity, peace, solidarity and common heritage as a people. Despite our differences in diversity and belief in ethnicity but that doesn’t interfere with our unity when it comes to the area of sports. I believed that this year's National Sports Festival will be a useful avenue for interfacing, integration for our youth, sportsmen, and women and also a platform for our state contingent to showcase our cultural heritage and best in sports”,  he charged.

He commended the efforts of the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Honourable Charles Akpuenika, in re-kindling sporting activities in the State and charged the Ebonyi State sports contingent on effective participation and bringing back home as many trophies as possible.
He, therefore, wished the state sports contingent the best of luck at the games, urging them to be good ambassadors.
“We want to thank the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the good work they are doing.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is one of the successful ministries that have thrived out of nothing. I remember when we came on board in our first tenure in 2015, we met sports activities in the state in comatose. But today, we can raise our shoulders high now, courtesy of the sports commissioner. I know that you are going to Edo State to make Ebonyi proud again. There is something peculiar about our government, we are known for victory, success and not failure. There is no common ground between us and failure and that same mind should be a reawakening in you. It is our strong belief that Ebonyi contingents will do us proud and come back with more trophies as usual”, he espoused.

The Zonal Coordinator of Sports, Mrs. Jane Owo and the Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Chief Charles Akpuenika in their separate remarks expressed gratitude to God and His Excellency for providing the enabling environments for sports to thrive in the state.

The Commissioner who described Ebonyi State Governor as a sports-riendly Governor reassured the state government that the trust and hope reposed on them will not go down the drain. He maintained that the Torch coming down to Ebonyi State has rouse their feelings to know that games are by the corner, adding that the, receiving the Torch of Unity was symbolic and a testimony of the importance his administration attached to youth and sports development in the state.