The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has taken a step toward promoting grassroots sports development as a bill seeking to establish an annual state sports festival scaled its first reading on the floor of the House.
The bill, titled "A Bill for a Law to Provide for Ebonyi State Annual Sports Festival and Establishment of the Ebonyi State Sports Festival Committee and Other Related Matters," is the first private member bill to be introduced in the current Assembly.
The bill was sponsored by Hon. Victor Chidi Nwoke, member representing Ebonyi North Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Youth Development and Sports.
Speaking with reporters shortly after the plenary session, Hon. Nwoke described the proposed legislation as a strategic move to identify and harness athletic talent across the state while addressing youth restiveness through constructive engagement in sports.
“This bill, which I personally sponsored with the support of other members especially those on the sports committee aims to help us build a pool of homegrown athletes that can represent Ebonyi at national competitions,” he said.
Nwoke noted that Ebonyi State had a limited number of athletes at the recently concluded National Sports Festival, attributing this to the lack of a structured platform for scouting and nurturing talent.
“In drafting this bill, we intentionally scheduled the state sports festival to precede the national one, so we can use it as a preparatory ground to select our best athletes,” he explained.
He emphasized the broader socio-economic value of sports, asserting that not every young person must pursue traditional white-collar professions. According to him, many talented youths in Ebonyi’s rural communities could find purpose and career opportunities through sports if given the platform.
“This initiative can curb youth restiveness and give our young people a meaningful future. We’ve seen Ebonyians competing for other states because they didn’t see such opportunities at home. This bill seeks to change that,” he added.
Nwoke also commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for his ongoing efforts to rejuvenate the state’s sports sector and pledged the Assembly’s continued support in actualizing the administration’s “People’s Charter of Needs” agenda.
The bill, when passed into law, according to the lawmaker, will establish the Ebonyi State Sports Festival Committee to oversee the organization, coordination, and development of the festival, aimed at making sports a viable career pathway for youths in the state.
Victor Nwegede
