By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing young sports talents for upcoming national and international championships.
The assertion was made by the Commissioner of Youths and Sports Development, Muhammad Salis Gamawa, at a gymnastics scouting program organized by the Nigeria Gymnastics Federation in collaboration with the Bauchi State Gymnastics Association.
Represented by Head of Planning at the State Sports Council, Salisu Garba, the Commissioner emphasized the importance of supporting young athletes to enhance the state’s reputation in sports.
He commended the Gymnastics Association for its consistency in hauling medals for the State at national events over the years.
The Commissioner also said that Bauchi state is blessed with young talents in all sporting events, hence, the need to monitor and nurture them for the upcoming competitions.
He explained that the talents discovered during the event, will be encourage to showcase their ability at all levels of the competitions for the state to maintain it name in the sporting circle.
Salis Gamawa commended Bauchi state Gymnastics association for doing the needful in the last ten years,as they always grabs medals during the national youth games and sports festivals.
On his part, the overseeing Director of the Bauchi state sports council, Ahmad Kawu Aliyu applauded the doggedness of the state commissioner of youth and sports for changing the narrative of sports development in the state to suits global best practices.
Ahmad Kawu Aliyu also called on other sporting associations in the state to emulate Gymnastics association by organizing similar event in order to grab young talents from the grassroots level.
Earlier, the vice President, Nigeria Gymnastics Federation, Alhaji Abba Muhammad Inuwa said, the essence of organizing the event was to discover young gymnasts from the grassroots, especially among primary and secondary school students.
Alhaji Abba Muhammad Inuwa, who said similar event in ongoing in all geopolitical zones of the country, added that the federation will support states associations with some kits for them to boost Gymnastics games at all levels.
The Chiroman Toro, called on Bauchi state government to invest in school sports for the betterment of sporting activities in the state.
Also speaking, Gymnastics national coach and convener of the program, Coach Bala Magaji Juwara said, the event help them to identify many young talents among school pupils.
Bala Juwara, charged sports officers of various schools that attended the program to always allow their pupils to practice what they have learnt during the scouting program.
Some of the students interviewed, Chidera Victor, Hauwa’u Adamu Sulaiman, Jafar Sagir Abdulkadir and Abdulrahman Umar Shehu, expressed happiness for attending the program, saying its a plus to their knowledge on sporting activities.
Students from thirteen secondary schools and seven primary schools attended the catch them young program,organised by Nigeria Gymnastics Federation in Bauchi state.
