In a bid to educate and raise awareness among students about the benefits and importance of sports, the Bayelsa State Government, through the Ministry of Sports Development and in partnership with the Bayelsa State Sports Council, has launched its first mission at Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama.
The initiative, called the “Pilot Bayelsa Future Aces Project” (BFAP), stems from the A.S.S.U.R.E.D agenda of the Prosperity Government. The project aims to discover and nurture young sporting talents, starting with school sports.
Speaking during the campaign, Hon. Dr. Daniel Igali, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, emphasized that the program is part of a larger effort to cultivate young talents through school sports. Igali stressed that school sports are the best platform to identify and develop future athletes, and that success at a young age goes beyond winning.
“We recognize the importance that the Bayelsa State government places on sports development. In the ASSURED program’s manifesto, sports is ranked second, which places the responsibility on us to bring this message to the grassroots. There’s no better place to start than the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama,” Igali stated.
He added, “There’s a strong connection between sports and education. It’s crucial for young athletes to learn how to handle winning and losing early on, as many athletes between the ages of 15 and 20 struggle when they face these experiences for the first time. Sports teaches discipline, leadership, and perseverance, which is why we’re committed to bringing the Bayelsa Future Aces Project to every primary and secondary school with a student population of 100 or more.”
Sir Braveman Wodi, Director of Sports for Bayelsa State Sports Council, thanked the government for prioritizing sports and highlighted the Council’s role in monitoring students who express interest in sports.
“This project is designed to discover and develop local talent who will become the sports ambassadors of tomorrow,” Wodi said. “We’ve collected data on students’ sports interests, and the Sports Council will ensure they receive proper training and support.”
The event also featured demonstrations of various sports to spark students’ interest in joining the sporting community.
Key figures who participated in the sensitization campaign included Mrs. Grace Alagoa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports; Mrs. Funke Aya, DFA of the ministry; Michael Alakere, Assistant Director of Human Resources; Ophibikoro Freeborn, Executive Director of the Sports Academy, Asoama; Ama-Ebi Stow, Chairman of Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association; and Blessing Oborodudu, Olympic silver medalist, along with coaches and secretaries.
