By Dan Onwuegbuna
For the past one year, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has been a beehive of activities, consequent upon the appointment of the young and vibrant Barrister Lloyd Ikechukwu Ekweremadu, as Commissioner for Youth and Sports. The dynamic Commissioner has been on a path-finders course to chart a new philosophy for Youth and Sports development in the State.
He set out with a mandate to change the dwindling fortunes of youths and sports and, despite the daunting challenges, the young Commissioner is taking his duty with unprecedented equanimity to change the narrative and return the State to its former glory in youth and sports.
Within a short period of time, he has enunciated policies and programmes to fast- track development in the sector.
His Vision is to position Enugu State as a prominent centre where sports serve as a driving force , promoting health,fitness and economic development.
He is propelled by the Mission to establish an enabling environment , to foster the growth of sports as a thriving business with substantial private sector investments in collaboration with government to help nurture sports development at all levels.
The Commissioner’s policy is rooted in four values namely,fair-play,inclusiveness, empowerment and economic development
By so doing, he realised that the welfare of Coaches and athletes is imperative for sports to thrive well in the State, he began to address the issue of rewarding athletes and Coaches who won medals for the State.
Pix: Ekweremadu Jnr.
In less than 5 months as Commissioner for Youth and Sports, he ensured that Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Astro- turf was completed culminating in Rangers International Football return to Enugu and eventually winning the 2023/2024 Nigeria Professional Football League.
Rangers’ win of the coveted trophy is perhaps his greatest achievement for the State.
Ekweremadu attributed the victory to the Governor, whom he praised for his commitment to the success of the Club through heavy financing and moral support, noting that the Governor entrusted the Management Technical Crew of Rangers to the right calibre of people. Recall that Rangers won the Cup 8 years ago, precisely in 2016
The icing on the cake was the recent hosting from May 20- 22, this year of the 1st COUNCIL ON SPORTS where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, State Commissioners of Sports and Permanent Secretaries from the 36 States and FCT and major sports stakeholders met and discussed issues in sports development.
Not yet done, he is setting a milestone by encouraging, Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, to bid to host the 24th edition of National Sports Festival in 2026 in Enugu.The hosting will undoubtedly help the State improve its sports infrastructure and sports tourism .
SPORTS DEVELOPMENT LAW. One of his greatest achievements is the enactment of Sports Development Law signed into law by Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah,designed to help the State generate funds and encourge private sector involvement and funding in sports
As soon as he became Commissioner , he began partnering the private sector to hold some sports Championship which is unprecedented in the history of the State.
Some of the sponsorships and partnership include the South-East Boxing Championship held in December, 2023, and the State came tops at the Championship. Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi,Imo and Enugu State participated at the event held at Nnamdi Azikiwe Indoor Hall . Enugu State Boxing team won the event. In September 2023 , he sponsored the participation of Enugu State Female Basketball team to South East/South South Basketball Championship in Calabar, Cross River State . Enugu State Basketball team won the Championship and went to Lagos where they became runners up.
Also in September, 2023 the State in partnership with Boolu Ogbe held the Enugu Metropolis Football Championship, which Championship included teams from Obiagu, Coal Camp, New Haven , Abakpa, as well as Emene, GRA and Uwani. The game was designed to enable scouts discover football talents in Enugu. In December 2023, Enugu State Para- athletics team took part in Abuja Para- Games, where the State won 12 medals made up of 5 gold medals 6 Silver Medals and 1 Bronze . Three members of the team where invited for Paralympics in Paris France. Notable invitee is Lucy Ejike, who will be representing Nigeria .
From November 2023, the Ministry organised end of Year Annual State Functionaries Football Championship, the State Executive Council, Judiciary, Legislature, Permanent Secretaries and Local Government Area Council Chairmen took part in the event won by the State Legislators.
The Ministry in collaboration with TopFlight Football International organised Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Football tournament . Forty eight Junior Public Secondary Schools took part with Ihe Secondary School, Awgu coming tops at the event.
Yet, again the Ministry partnered David Hills Event Centre to hold Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Boxing Championship in February this year,Boxers from Kaduna, Benue ,Rivers, Imo, Abia and Enugu State took part in the event.
The Ministry also, partnered, I Tour Africa , to hold the first ever Mixed Martial Arts Caged fight in the Base Event Centre, Enugu.International fighters from Congo, Uganda,Kenya, Senegal and Nigeria engaged in the brutal fight for honours, on 30 th March, 2024.
On May 4th, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah flagged- off and took part in Zenith Bank Enugu Half- Marathon . The Governor promised to expand the Marathon event and to make it an International Marathon where international athletes will participate.
The State also hosted Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) South East Junior Football teams which included Enyimba, Heartland, Abia Warriors and Rangers Junior teams with Rangers Junior team clinching victory.
The State again hosted the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNL) play -off in July this year.
Just recently, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium hosted International Football friendly matches , Kaloun Football Club from Sierra leone, Enyimba International Football team, Rangers , Shooting Stars and Remo Stars played matches to prepare for next Football Season.
Recall that Rangers won the 2023/2024 NPFL trophy and will in August 18 this month play in the CAF Champions League and hopefully will prove their mettle in the competition.
Given the above mentioned facts, Commissioner Ekweremadu, has the pedigree and capacity to improve sports in the State.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
As in sports, young Ekweremadu, ennunciated YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND BILL, that is awaiting the Governor’s assent. The bill is projected provide funds from the private sector to help in youth development in the State to build the capacities of our youths.
The Ministry has trained more than 700 Youths in the Songhai agro processing farm industry , while 500 youths are being trained in Artificial Intelligence and digital technology in collaboration with AXL, Another 500 youths were trained in manufacturing in partnership with Potters Wheel Foundation who are doing well in there various businesses. LAST LINE.The past one year within the domain of Sports and Youth development in Enugu State has been phenomenal . There has been a fundamental overhaul of the system resulting in verifiable and positive results. The credit goes to the new man at the helm of affairs, Commissioner Lloyd Ikechukwu Ekweremadu propped up by a visionary Governor, Dr Peter MBAH.
Dan Onwuegbuna is a Director of Information.