*Propose strategic sports development
By JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
A high powered delegation of basketball enthusiasts and administrators in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large, visited the Ministry of Sports Development and the Commissioner of Sports, Professor Benjamin Kumai Gugong on Thursday.
The delegation, which included Coach Oliver B. Johnson (OBJ), said its mission is to propose a strategic sports development initiative.
“A Public Private Partnership approach for economic growth, peace building and youth development in Kaduna State: basketball in focus.”
They explained that they will use same template to develop other sports.
The initiative was at the instance of Saidu Idris Dibis, SA to Governor Uba Sani on Sports Matters, who brought some stakeholders for a strategic meeting and they gave birth to the initiative.
In his welcome speech, the Commissioner of Sports Development, Professor Benjamin Kumai Gugong expressed optimism that the idea would yield desired results.
He promised to study the documents carefully for onward delivery to the governor.
He assured that his office will work for the development of sports, especially at the grassroots.
In an interview with the SA to Governor Uba Sani on Sports Matters, Saidu Idris Dibis, he maintained that the governor is in love with sports and will do all possible to promote sports to the next level.
He urged various sports associations, corporate entities and philanthropists to join hands together to achieve the goal.
Also, Ahmed Tijjani, a board member Kaduna State Basketball and board member North West Zonal Representative on Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), shed more light.
He said, “Kaduna State has produced great basket stars like Skambo Morrison, Onminya Mathew, John Iduh, Bright Akhuetie and recently, Timothy Kwaor and a host of others.”
Ahmed Tijjani said that to achieve the goal, “we intend to work with relevant stakeholders, particularly the state government, municipal authorities, local government elected officials and corporate bodies to implement the long term complementary strategies and cardinal pillars necessary for promoting and developing sports in Kaduna State”.
Among the team that visited the commissioner, include the chief coach of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and Basketball veteran, Coach OBJ, Chief Coach of Kaduna Polytechnic, James Fungen, Mufi Idoko, Edward Tox and others
