By Daily Sports on July 24, 2017

Last week, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) lost one of its veterans, Eddie Bekom. Until his accidental death, he was the National Vice Chairman of the South-South Zone of the Association.  What led to his demise is already in the public domain.

He was a down-to-earth Sports Journalist who paid his dues on the Sports Writing beat and Journalism in general. I used to call him General and he says Worldwide Victor. I miss him due to our closeness. When the news of the gas explosion that claimed his life broke, I made calls to ascertain the degree of burn, and the result was not encouraging. I resorted to payers. God answers prayers, but He knows why He called him home to rest in His blossom.  Going on and on would reopen the wounds and make some of us who were very close to him bleed in our hearts the more. I lost him. I pray Nigerians and especially government rally round the daughters that are receiving treatment right now. They must not die.

As at the time of writing this piece, the Nigerian government was yet to pay a visit to Carl Ikeme at the London Hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. The nearest was the call the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung said he made to convey the Federal Government’s heartfelt sympathy and that of Nigerians to the ailing national team goal keeper. Dalung told us that the bravo warrior was in high spirit. The NNFF Secretary General, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi made a statement expressing shock over the ailment.

Many have visited him on his sick bed except Nigeria’s administrators, current and ex- internationals to give him hope. When you look up and down, you will continue to wonder if it is worth serving this country, if only you would easily be abandoned at your trying moments. Carl Ikeme will survive this and continue his career.  

Our searchlight this week on this platform is on Akwa Ibom State’s Governor, Udom Emmanuel and his Youths and Sports Development programme. The other time, we examined and passed a vote of confidence on the state’s team in the Nigeria Professional Football League cadre, Akwa United FC. I vividly recall saying that whenever Akwa United management is given to people that know what it takes to administer the sport, the team like a sleeping giant would wake up and claim her rightful position in the NPFL table. The team after a slow start has picked up considerably.  If it continues with its consistency, there is the likelihood that it will pick a slot for CAF Champs League next year. Paul Bassey and the technical crew are working hard.

Truth is that the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel has devised many creative strategies to make our youths to be relevant in a competitive world. As he stepped into office, he set in motion, several training programmes to ensure their employability beginning with the 1000 of our sons and daughters that are on state government training on Oracle Database Management. Another 200 have also completed a power sector training in Abuja. That power sector training was designed to equip the trainees with basic skills involved in power generation; distribution and maintenance; while another set of 100 youths have undergone a special programme on mechanised farming in Israel, which was strategically factored into the annual pilgrimage.

He had since floated a scheme tagged the Akwa Ibom Employment and Enterprise Scheme where young entrepreneurs are encouraged to be self-reliant employing combined methods like the franchise, common facility and business incubation system to address unemployment. Governor Udom Emmanuel places very high premium on education and skills development as both are pivotal to human capacity development.

It is heartwarming that he also sees sports as a window of opportunities to unlock hidden treasures for the younger generation.  For instance in 2015, he sat at a breakfast table with the management and players of the state owned team. He charged them to write the name of Akwa Ibom State on the national sporting map. He followed them all the way until they broke a 20-year-old jinx. The state won its first national football trophy at club level when Akwa United won the 2016 Federations Cup and qualified to play at the continental level. Akwa Ibom State is taking sports back to schools and to further develop sporting talents. The Governor is building ten sports centres in the ten federal constituencies in the state. He commissioned the first one a few weeks ago at West Itam Secondary School, Itu Local Government Area.

If you take a walk to the second sports centre at Ikot Mbong, Onna you will notice that the project, which is one of the numerous projects after the heart of the Governor is near completion. If you are a keen follower of his government or perhaps, you are one who monitors happenings around the states to know which one is truly touching the lives of the people, you would agree with me that Governor Emmanuel is running a youth-friendly government, and he knows that unemployment is a major scourge of the youths. He is designing more plans to provide opportunities for our youths and give them employment. His belief is that our youths should earn a living through the works of their hands as opposed to begging for a living. In the same vein, he set up loan schemes for small-scale businesses, especially for women, which have witnessed massive patronage without hassle for all concerned.

Little wonder his youth development template is like a master plan. Just a closer look at the following will give you an insight into what one is saying: Hosting of the first Akwa Ibom Youth Sports Festival; Approval for the establishment of Sports Academy in the 10 Federal Constituencies; 1, 000 Youths for Oracle Certification Programme; Power Sector training for 200 youths; Special Agricultural Training for 100 youths in Israel; Construction of West Itam Secondary school sports complex; Training of 450 youths in agro-allied industry; and the Training of 3, 000 youths in ICT, through AKEES.

Udom Emmanuel is one Governor that takes time off to inspect these programmes and ensures those that it was designed for are the beneficiaries. His administration is also making efforts to open up the hinterland for more development. The youths are applauding him. Those that took to sports where they have comparative advantage are hell bent on ensuring that they earn a living from it. Modern facilities are fitted in the stadia and sports centres to make it easy for everyone interested in sports.

The State Governor has also approved the construction of a 10,000 capacity stadium for Eket to ensure that children from there and its environs won’t travel far before they can get facilities to train. This was disclosed by its hard working Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Monday Uko, while inspecting the old Eket Stadium last week.

Uko said the action of the governor Udom Emmanuel was his passion and a renewed move to develop and expand sports infrastructure in the state, which he has embarked on since he assumed office some two years plus now. The sports sector is moving as other sectors are witnessing tremendous progress.

Uko posited that the construction of the new facility would be completed before May, 2018 and that work is ongoing at the site steadily. He further revealed that the ultra-modern stadium would have tartan tracks for athletics, practicing pitch and a main bowl to make it a befitting one.

He informed that the facility, when completed would decongest state-sponsored football competitions from Uyo and offer the residents of the city the opportunity to watch top flight football.

“We are not going to inherit anything from the old stadium. Everything here will give way for a new stadium, which by the grace of God will be completed before the end of May 2018. We are going to construct a stadium that will take at least 10,000 spectators. And going by the enthusiasm and the importance the Governor attaches to projects, the stadium should attract international matches. You know our taste. The quality and state of the art kind that is associated with our facilities. This won’t be an exception. We are closely monitoring to ensure that quality materials are used for its construction from the beginning to the end. Governor Udo Emmanuel never settles for less,” Uko insists.

On the National Youth Games, the Commissioner remarked that athletes who excelled at the last state games would represent Akwa Ibom at the forthcoming competition in Ilorin.

He said the decision was to assist them develop their talents. The Eket Stadium was constructed by the Eket Local Government Area in 1994 and had hosted top flight club, Mobil Pegasus FC.

It is another loud step brewing in Akwa Ibom State. Governor Udom Emmanuel is working and Monday Uko is ensuring that the Youths and Sports sectors are getting their own piece of the cake. Discussion continues on Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp Facebook. Keep shooting hard till next week!

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 24, 2017

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