Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s love for sports and sports development in general has never been in doubt. He has given sports development much attention since the inception of his administration. It is important to highlight the feat achieved by Rangers International Football Club of Enugu courtesy of Ugwuanyi’s uncommon approach to sports issues. Rangers International achieved a feat that eluded them for over 30 years under Gov. Ugwuanyi such as winning Nigeria Premier League trophy and winning AITEO cup (challenge cup) the following year.
To show Ugwuanyi’s love for sports development, he started ime-ogbe league. This is a football for all villages in Enugu State. This has kept the youths busy and many hidden and wasting talents have been discovered and harnessed. Recently Enugu State hosted national under 13 football competition. Not too long ago, Enugu State hosted inter school national football competition. This is because Ugwuanyi loves and support sports development.
To make sports development even, Gov Ugwuanyi started a sports complex at Nsukka town. The project is over 90% completed as almost all the facilities needed for the sports complex to be functional is on ground and installation is almost completed. Astro turf on the football field, tartan tracks on the tracks and seats for spectators are fully installed on the over 5000 seater capacity sports stadium. The contractor handling the project promised to deliver it on record time which is before December 2022. Gov Ugwuanyi also want to build a standard sports complex at Oji River which is well captured in 2022 budget of Enugu State. With this, there will be even sports development in all the three senatorial zones in the state.
Gov Ugwuanyi have also embarked on the renovation of Nnamdi Azikiwe sports stadium at Enugu capital city. The stadium was left to deteriorate by federal ministry of sports and youth development and Enugu State government boldly asked for it. Presently the stadium is witnessing a total transformation in all aspects up to the fog lights. The turf field, tracks, VIP stand, seats, popular side section, volleyball and basketball sections are all under intense and thorough renovation. This is because Ugwuanyi’s love for sports knows no bounds.
Sports development apart from entertainment and economic value is also a veritable tool for fighting crime. Most of the crime committed are done by youths. If they are engaged in sports, the will have little or no time to engage in crime. It is also a good way of keeping fit. It is healthy for our body system. This will also help to sanitize our society of crime. Gov. Ugwuanyi knows this very well and is developing sports relentlessly. We are proud of him and cannot stop saying that Enugu State is in the hand of God.
Bibian Anekwe News added; “Leadership is not all about control but service. Its not about power but empowerment”.
Written by
Leonard Ugwu
A political Analyst
Media Team Member of ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT