The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, says the time has come for the African continent and transnational corporations to see sports as a vehicle that can unify, build, and blur national divides.
Governor Otti stated this at Government House Umuahia when he received the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) team and the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) team, who were in Abia on an inspection tour of facilities ahead of the hosting of the first African Badminton and Para-Badminton Championship in Nigeria by the State.
The Governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, explained that sports have proven to be an effective tool for international diplomacy and commended the Badminton Confederation of Africa and the Badminton Federation of Nigeria for choosing Abia as the host state for the forthcoming first African Badminton and Para-Badminton Championship in Nigeria.
The state Chief Executive reiterated his commitment to building Olympic-standard stadiums with world-class sporting equipment across the three Senatorial Districts in the state to enable Abia youths identify and maximize their God-given potentials.
He further assured the teams that his administration would continue to partner with the state Ministry of Sports and Youth Development to ensure that the facilities are upgraded to meet global standards ahead of the forthcoming event next year.
In his speech, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, disclosed that the teams were in the state to inspect the badminton facilities, as Abia had been chosen to host the first-ever African Badminton and Para-Badminton Championship in Nigeria.
In a vote of thanks, the Operations Manager of the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA), Rajea Rochady, and the Development Manager of BCA, Ahmed Rada, expressed satisfaction with the facilities on ground and expressed optimism that the state government would continue to improve on them to meet global standards.
Our correspondent, reports that the State Director of Sports, Abia State Sports Council, Comrade Obioma George, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Francis Orbil, among other top government officials were present during the visit.
