Local Government Chairmen in Ebonyi State have thrown their weight behind Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s renewed drive for accelerated sports development, pledging to complement his vision by investing more in grassroots sporting initiatives across their council areas.
In an exclusive chat with journalists yesterday at Abakaliki, the Executive Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Chief Stephen Ebere Nwogba, emphasized the critical role of sports in youth empowerment, describing it as a timely intervention to address the soaring unemployment rate among Nigerian youths.
"Sports has become one of the most effective tools for empowering young people globally.
"And here in Ebonyi, Governor Nwifuru is demonstrating uncommon commitment by reintegrating the state into Nigeria’s mainstream sports development agents.
He highlighted several initiatives already in motion in Abakaliki LGA, including inter-community football competitions, school-based sports events, and local tournaments designed to scout and groom young athletes into national prominence.
He lauded Governor Nwifuru for reviving the state’s professional football presence through the establishment of Abakaliki FC, which replaced the defunct Ebonyi Angels FC scrapped in 2007.
The return of the team, he noted, has reignited the passion for football among Ebonyians and rekindled pride in the state's sporting identity.
According to him, the emergence of Abakaliki FC has not only drawn massive weekend crowds to the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium but also brought Ebonyi back onto the national football radar.
He particularly commended the team for its historic feat of reaching the final of the 2025 Federation Cup, where they narrowly lost to Kwara United in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.
“This is the first time a football club from Ebonyi is reaching the Federation Cup final, and that alone speaks volumes of what can be achieved under this renewed sporting atmosphere,” he said.
Nwogba further called on youths across the state to seize the emerging opportunities provided by the new sports projects and competitions to showcase their talents, promising that mechanisms are being put in place to ensure proper grooming and support for promising athletes.
He equally challenged his fellow council chairmen to back the state government’s vision by increasing their respective annual budget allocations for sports development and infrastructure.
"It is time every local government keyed into this policy. The grassroots is where the stars are born. Let’s provide the environment and funding to harness and empower these future champions,” he added.
With the resurgence of organized sports in Ebonyi, stakeholders believe the Nwifuru administration’s push will not only restore the state's long-lost sporting glory but also serve as a viable platform for economic empowerment and youth inclusion.
