By Rauf Oyewole
The Bauchi State Government has announced plans to establish a modern sports academy aimed at nurturing young talents and expanding sporting activities across the state.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Bashir Ya’u, disclosed this when he received members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Bauchi State Chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
Ya’u said the proposed academy would combine sporting development with quality education, providing young athletes with the technical skills and academic foundation required to build successful careers in sports.
According to him, the academy would also strengthen grassroots sports development by identifying talented young people across various sporting disciplines and exposing them to professional training and opportunities beyond the state.
He said the initiative was part of the government’s efforts to reposition the sports sector and create an enabling environment for young athletes to realise their potential.
The commissioner commended SWAN for its role in promoting sports and assured the association of the ministry’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with sports writers and other stakeholders.
He said the partnership would contribute to the development of sports in Bauchi State and the country at large.
Earlier, the Chairman of SWAN, Bauchi State Chapter, Bala Bawaji, said the delegation was at the ministry to congratulate Ya’u on his appointment and strengthen the existing relationship between the association and the ministry.
Bawaji described sports writers as critical stakeholders in sports development, noting that effective media coverage was essential to promoting athletes, sporting events and government initiatives in the sector.
He urged the commissioner to prioritise the upgrading of sporting facilities across the state to encourage greater participation among young people and provide athletes with suitable training environments.
The SWAN chairman also encouraged the commissioner to utilise his youthful energy and experience in public affairs to drive meaningful development in the youth and sports sectors.
Bawaji commended Governor Bala Mohammed for what he described as his commitment to sports development in the state, particularly financial support to Wikki Tourists Football Club and the Bauchi State Sports Council to enable them participate in competitions across the country.
He expressed optimism that continued collaboration between the government, sports stakeholders and the media would help discover and develop more sporting talents in Bauchi State.
