By: Carolyn Ugbor
The Cross River State Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Beatrice Igwe, has stated that sports and sporting activities in Cross River State have been revived since the inception of the Governor Bassey Otu's administration.
She made this statement when she played host to the Executives of the Directorate of Sports, University of Calabar, who were in her office on a courtesy visit, Tuesday.
Igwe affirmed that sports concerns itself with the people, and in line with Governor Bassey Otu's 'People's First' mantra, sporting activities as well as the sector as a whole is witnessing major repositioning and transformation as deliberate measures to revamp the sector.
She promised to support the Sports Directorate in her capacity while urging them to also make sacrifices as their efforts to sustain the revitalization of sporting activities by the State Government.
Earlier, Director of Sports, University Of Calabar, Dr Blessing Anna, disclosed that their visit was to familiarize with the Ministry and solicit for support towards the lineup of sporting events for the year which according to her, has become yearly rituals and a veritable platform to identify hidden sporting talents amongst their students for any competitive sporting event.
She also used the opportunity to solicit for assistance from the state government to enable the school put in place facilities that will qualify them to host the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA).
Hosting NUGA games, according to the Director, is important as it will create opportunities for the school to achieve most sporting facilities that will change the school for the better, noting that the University which now offers Human Kinetic and Health Education as a course is struggling to secure facilities to teach the students.
Present during the visit were ; Mr Ajah Francis Ajah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr. Festus Ushie, Director of Administration.