Bauchi Govt Holds seminar ahead of State Sports Festival
By Umar Moh’d
Sports officers across the 20 local government areas of Bauchi state, have been urged to produced young quality, hard working and disciplined athletes that are expected to participate in the upcoming fourth edition of the Bauchi state sports festival.
The Bauchi state commissioner of youth and sports development, Alhaji Adamu Babayo Gabarin made the call yesterday while addressing sports officers from 20 local government areas during a seminar organised by the ministry in collaboration with the state sports council in preparations for the state sports festival scheduled for 13th — 20th December this year.
The commissioner represented by the overseeing permanent secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim said, the ministry has made all arrangements including medical, security and other necessary logistics, hence the need for sports officers to present more sports oriented young athletes to ensure success of the event.
Alhaji Adamu Babayo Gabarin said, the purpose of organizing the state festival was to fish out hidden talents across the 20 local government areas and use them for future competitions, especially at zonal and national events.
While calling on the participants to conduct themselves in orderly manner, the commissioner charged officiating officials to be just and fair during the games, saying the era of cheating and bringing machineries has gone as anyone caught will be sanctioned.
Adamu Babayo Gabarin added that, the state government had a plan to upgrade and construct new sports facilities across the local government areas to improve sporting activities in the state.
Also speaking, Head of Technical Bauchi state sports council, Coach Bala Magaji Juwara explained that the seminar will help in mobilizing and educating local government sports officers on the new rules of the game concerning the upcoming state festival.
On his part, Head of planning, Salisu Garba said, the seminar will give chance to sports administrators in the state to collect appropriate data from sports officers on the talented and hardworking athletes.
Speaking on behalf of the local governments sports officers, Abdulmalik Aminu of the Bauchi local council, thanked state ministry of youth and sports development for organizing the seminar, saying the knowledge acquired will be extended to other colleagues for wider understanding of the rules of the game ahead of the state festival.
More than 12 events involving male and female categories in Athletics, Gymnastics, Badminton, Football, Handball, Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, cycling, Kokawa, Dambe among others are expected to be competed for during the competition.
