In Bayelsa State, sport is an all-purpose vehicle – Director

Sport is an all-purpose vehicle that helps engage the youth positively and provides financial security for the teeming youth population in the state.

This is stated by the Director of Sports in Bayelsa, Braveman Wodi.. Wodi said this is the vision of the state Governor Senator Douye Diri who strongly believes that the youth hold the key to a prosperous nationhood.

Wodi said, “Our goal and mission in Bayelsa State is to engage the youths, make them the base of our development and sports is one of the vehicles we are using positively.”

Since Diri became the governor of Bayelsa, the sporting landscape is said to have changed, and the teeming youth population are keying into his vision and mission.

Wodi stated that throughout the year Bayelsa State played host to various sports federations’ programmes and championships as well as training camp for technical officials across all the sports recognized in Nigeria.

“We hosted the Pre-season tournament for the Nigeria Premier Football League, the National Scrabble Championship and the Super Six Tournament for the Women’s League that produced the national champions, Edo Queens,” Wodi said.

 “We also adopt different exceptional athletes and put them on a comprehensive sponsorship or scholarship program.”

Despite the difficult and harsh topography of the state, Governor Diri has embarked on a construction of a new ultra-modern sports facility and renovations of old ones.

In the area of facilities, the government of Bayelsa State is approaching it holistically: Providing an ultra-modern facility in the State capital: Equip and provide standard stadia, sports hall in all the eight Local Government Areas; Stage and host both local, national, regional and international development programme and rewarding excellence and encouraging young aspiring athletes to blossom.

On the forthcoming coming National Youth Games, Wodi says they are ready, and they are heading to Asaba, Delta State to make a big and bold statement as has been the case in the last four years.

“You know, our current governor was a former Commissioner for Sports and that explains his interest in sports and in addition, he believes in engaging the youth positively.”

Bayelsa has Honourable Daniel Igali, an Olympic Games gold medalist, a former World champion as the Commissioner for Sports and he is effectively translating the idea, plans and programmes of the State in sports into reality.

The Director of Sports named the likes of wrestling Super women Blessing Okorodudu, Chess wizkid Deborah Quickpen as of the athletes on the state sponsorship and scholarship programme.

Currently Bayelsa State is among the top five states in the area of sports development, and this is seen in their performance at the National Sports Festival, National Youth Games and other National Championships.

They have a club in the elite division of the male and female football leagues and the State is one of the very few States that host the head office of a national sporting Federation.