Kebbi State Governor, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu on Thursday received the Torch of Peace and Unity preparatory to the forthcoming National Sports Festival.
The festival holds in Asaba, Delta State between Nov. 28 and Dec. 10, this year.
The torch that signifies beginning of National Sports Festival, will go to all the 36 states and FCT Abuja.
It was first ignited by President
Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa, on Oct. 25.
The Governor lauded officials of the Federal Ministry of Sports for bringing the torch to Birnin Kebbi.
Bagudu commended Buhari for approving the commencement of the festival shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that Kebbi State had fully mobilized to successfully participate in the festival and excell more than it did in 2021.
While describing sports as more than fun, Bagudu said,”it is competitive and youth should make sports as an important element.
He urged the youths to work hard and remain dedicated to excell in life.
“You can only do better when you are determined to excel. There is no substitute to hard work.
“Youth should be inspired by the successes of their peers from across the globe.
” You can only do better in anything if you are determined’, he averred.
Bagudu further said that sports brings honour and fame to nations more than any other vocation or profession and prayed that the sports festival serves as a motivation as well as further unite the country.
He recalled when the former Super Eagle players, Daniel Amokachi, Tijjani Babangida and a couple of others who visited Kebbi State to inspire and empower young men and women in order to excell in sports.
Bagudu also expressed delight over the feat achieved by an indigene of Kebbi State in professional football, Zaidu Sanusi Jega who plays for FC Porto of Portugal as a pride to the State.
The Zonal Sports Coordinator for North West and the team leader from the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mr. Muhammad Kabir Datti while presenting the torch of Unity and Peace to the governor, said that the torch symbolized peace and unity and commencement of of the festival.
According to him , it was the tradition of the Sports Ministry that the torch should go round all the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory preparatory to the actual commencement of the sports festival.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the torch of unity in Abuja on 25th of October,2022 while the the 21st National Sports Festival would hold from 28th November to 10th December,2022 in the ancient city of Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Earlier, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Youths and Sports, Alhaji Usman Ladan led the sports contingent and officials to Government House, Birnin Kebbi to see the governor and explained the significance of the movement of the Torch of Unity. Ladan underscored the importance of the torch to the festival.
