Bauchi Revives Sports Festival, Kickstart Second Edition

By Khalid Idris Doya

The staging of the 2024 Bauchi State Sports Festival is a culmination of several efforts that would not only rekindle the spirit of sportsmanship, but also serve as a platform for discovering new talents from all the 20 Local Governments of the state, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their skills and compete at a higher level.

Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed who made this assertion in Bauchi yesterday while flagging-off the revised second edition of the state sports festival, saying “I am also confident that this tournament will rejuvenate our sports culture and set a precedent for future editions”.

He enumerated some of the efforts demonstrated by the state government to revive the sports festival as capacity building and training, youth engagement initiatives, community involvement, educational endowment, youth in agricultural initiatives, digital empowerment, and revitalization of sports.

Governor Bala who was represented by his deputy, Hon Auwal Mohammed Jatau wished the athletes a successful and enjoyable competition, expressing confidence that their dedication, hard work and passion will be rewarded with deserving medals and cherished memories.

Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed expressed his heartfelt gratitude to officials and other stakeholders for their tireless efforts and wonderful support,
“I am optimistic that the Bauchi state sports festival will be a resounding success and a testament to the collective commitment to sports development.

He urged them to work together, with unity of purpose and determination to create an event that not only celebrates the state athletes, but also strengthens the fabric of the Nigerian and global society through the power of sports. 

The governor described the revival of the Bauchi state sports festival as a momentous achievement not only to showcase the sporting capacity of the state, but to also harness the transformative potential of sports, stressing that it is an opportunity to discover the local talents, promote healthy competition, teamwork, perseverance and foster unity among the state’s diverse communities. 

He noted with delight that the state festival second edition marks the beginning of an exciting journey as Bauchi revive a significant tradition that has been dormant for over four decades, telling the athletes that their presence at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, venue of the event, is a testament to their collective commitment to advance sports in the state and celebrate the strides made in the sports sector.
On his part, the Bauchi state Commissioner of Youth and Sports Development, Honourable Muhammad Salis Gamawa disclosed that the state Governor has granted approval to the ministry’s quest in creating ties with the European Sports Clubs and China to strengthen sports infrastructure and modalities for players transfer as well as joint-resource partnership.

He noted that the development is aimed at setting Bauchi at the forefront in sports Tourism in Nigeria. According to him, in collaboration with the federal government, Bauchi state is number-1 in the North-East in terms of participation with an enrolment of 10,038 youth within the 4-Cohorts.

The Commissioner added that through Governor Bala Mohammed’s Skill Acquisition Program, 5,000 young women have been empowered with small businesses, with the programs in nine Local government areas of the state.

Gamawa further revealed that the program is ongoing in the remaining 11-LGAs within the 20 local government areas of the state. He said that the Sports Festival is not just a culmination of the ministry’s efforts but a starting point for even greater accomplishments.

“Our vision is to create an environment where every young person has the opportunity to excel, whether in sports, academics, entrepreneurship, or any other field of their choosing”, the Commissioner said.

He urged the athletes to compete with honor, integrity, and sportsmanship, having in their minds that they are ambassadors of Bauchi State, and their efforts on and off the field reflect the values the state holds so dear.

Also speaking, Speaker, State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Sulaiman praised Governor Bala for reviving the state’s sports activities.

He also praised the Ministry of Sports and other sports stakeholders for facilitating the expansion of athletic activities in Bauchi State, and urged participants to give their all to ensure the festival runs smoothly.