Abia State Government says it is collaborating with local and international institutions to build capacity for sports managers, therapists and psychologists.
Speaking while declaring open a-3-day training proramme for sports administrators organized by the Nigeria Olympic Committee in collaboration with the Abia state Sports Council at the indoor sports hall of the Umuahia Township Stadium, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth development, Mr Nwaobilor Ananaba said that the workshop is aimed at equipping the sports managers with requisite academic knowledge to become better sports administrators.
Mr Ananaba noted that apart from field experience, academic experience is also important to have an all round view of what it takes to be a better sports administrator.
“This training came about because of the need to have a knowledgeable sports administrators aside field experience. We undertook the training for academic knowledge, so that our coaches will be well equipped in sports management.
He thanked Governor Alex Otti for his unwavering support to the development of sports in the state and the Nigeria Olympic Committee for recognizing the state for the training programme.
In his speech, the Team Lead from the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Dr Mrs Esther Aluko who spoke on behalf of the President, expressed the hope that the programme will be impactful with its attendant benefits for the sports sectors, assuring that sports administrators of the efforts of the Committee in turning sports administration around.
She made it clear that the programme will be impactful and bring the needed changes in organizing of sports in Abia, adding that at the end of the workshop, some of the sports administrators will have gotten solid foundation for be qualified for the upcoming athletes”
In his opening remarks, the state Director of sports Comrade Obioma George while describing the training as first of its kind in the history of sports development in Abia state, thanked the Nigeria Olympic Committee for making it possible for the training of Officers in the sports industry.
“It will improve Abia participation in sports, it will improve our skills, and our professional coaches here have the field knowledge, but academic knowledge is very important too,I know that at the end of this 3-days exercise,Abia will be in for the best”.
He used the forum to charge participants to take the training seriously and put all that will be learnt to work for the overall improvement of their athletes.
The state Director of Sports Comrade Obioma George later conducted the team round the international standard Weight Lifting equipments recently procured by the Abia state government for the use of Abia athletes.
