Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has approved the establishment of a female football team in the state as part of measures to strengthen sports development and create more opportunities for young athletes.
The State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Chidi Onyia, disclosed this in Abakaliki when the executive members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ebonyi State Chapter, paid him a familiarisation visit in his office.
Onyia said the initiative was part of Governor Nwifuru's broader commitment to reposition the sports sector and provide a platform for young talents, particularly female athletes, to develop their potential and pursue careers in sports.
According to him, the governor's approval of the female football team was coming at a time when the state was witnessing renewed attention in sports development following the emergence of Ebonyi-born athlete, Gabriel Ogazi, who recently won gold in the men's 400 metres.
He noted that Ogazi's achievement, coupled with his reported number-one global ranking in the event, had demonstrated the wealth of sporting talents in Ebonyi and the need for sustained investment in their discovery and development.
Onyia said the state government was determined to build on such achievements by creating more opportunities for athletes across different sporting disciplines.
The commissioner also disclosed that Governor Nwifuru had approved the payment of stipends to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Ebonyi State.
He said the decision would end more than a decade of the state's failure to provide such financial support to corps members serving in the state.
The development, he said, reflected the administration's commitment to supporting young Nigerians who contribute to the development of the state through the NYSC scheme.
Onyia further charged Abakaliki FC to intensify its efforts towards securing promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), stressing that the state government expected the club to raise the profile of football in Ebonyi.
He also called on sports journalists in the state to continue to promote sports development through professional, balanced and objective reportage.
The commissioner urged members of the media to pay greater attention to grassroots sports and the identification of emerging talents, saying effective media coverage could help attract wider recognition and opportunities for athletes.
Earlier, the Chairman of SWAN, Ebonyi State Chapter, Ndubuisi Nwogha, congratulated Onyia on his appointment as Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports and pledged the association's support for initiatives aimed at advancing sports in the state.
Nwogha commended Governor Nwifuru for what he described as youth- and sports-driven policies, saying such initiatives had contributed to providing constructive engagement for young people and reducing crime.
He urged the commissioner to maintain an open relationship with sports stakeholders and the media in order to achieve the administration's objectives in the sector.
The SWAN chairman also appealed to the state government to provide the association with mobility and other operational logistics to enable it effectively cover sporting activities and contribute to sports development across the state.
He assured the commissioner that sports journalists in the state would continue to give professional coverage to sporting activities while promoting athletes, clubs and grassroots competitions.
