Tonye Orabere
The maiden edition of W.W Whyte Secondary Schools Football Tournament in Rivers State kicked off on Wednesday, at the Stella Maris College in Port Harcourt township.
The opening ceremony was witnessed by huge crowd, including top dignitaries from Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and people from all works of life, characterized with funfares.
Speaking at the opening ceremony the Managing Director of the commission Dr. Samuel Ugbuku, said the basic reason for sponsoring the competition was to engage the youths meaningfully with the view to create employment and discover hidden talents.
He stated that it is also in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renew hope agenda and activate the minds of the youths towards the forthcoming youth conference soon.
The Managing Director who was represented by the Director Youth, Sports, Culture and Women affairs, Barrister Salami Olaniyi Okogie said the event will be an annual event hence the leadership of the commission was determined to sustain it.
” This competition is basically to engage the youth meaningfully in a way to create employment, it is an annual event. I want to say that it is also President Bola Tinubu’s renew hope agenda to activate the minds of the youths towards the forthcoming youth conference.
This is our way in Niger Delta to prepare minds of the youths for the future and select hidden talents and groom them to stardom” he Dr. Ugbuku said.
The NDDC boss further revealed that the commission would also sponsor legendary football competition where past football professionals will compete to promote peace and unity in the region.
” Bringing youths playing together, you are also enshrining peace and communal understanding” he stated.
Also speaking the Deputy Director of Youth, Sports, Culture and Women Affairs, Mrs Ijeoma Osuji expressed commitment that the female category of the competition would also be sponsored soon.
“The female category will soon kick off, why it was not taken into consideration now was because there was nobody that has pushed for it. As it is proposal will be made and my directorate will look into” She said.
She use the forum to advice youths to be dedicated, focus and purposeful, as the intention of the commission is to prepare them for the future, adding that these practices and tournaments was also to get them ready for future.
