Sports, a valuable tool for national integration, peaceful co-existence – Ex-lawmaker
NAN-H-130
Peace
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Nov.16, 2015 (NAN) Alhaji Ahmed Wadada, a former House of Representatives member, has described sports as a valuable tool for national integration and peaceful co-existence.
Wadada, also a former PDP senatorial candidate for Nasarawa West senatorial district in Nasarawa State, said this on Wednesday in Keffi.
He fielded questions from newsmen during the 2016 maiden Keffi Polo Ranch tournament holding in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area of the state.
To this end, the ex-lawmaker said that he has built a multi-million Naira Polo ranch with international facilities in order to boost sporting and socio-economic activities in the state.
According to him, apart from physical well-being, sports can play an important role for a safer, more prosperous and more peaceful society through its educational values and worldwide network, hence the need for the tournament.
Wadada, a two term former member in the House of Representatives, said he initiated the project towards bringing development and civilisation closer to the people of the state at large as well as to create employment opportunities to the people.
“The importance of sports like polo to the development of any society cannot be over-emphasised, because beyond physical well-being, sport is a valuable tool for national and international integration.
“Polo is a game of kings and it is also the king of all games, and as we are all aware that sports can help in bridging the cultural, ethnic, religious and political divides.
“Sport can also promote tolerance, peace, create job, reinforce social integration and advocates healthy life style, among others.
“As you can see, the 2016 maiden Keffi Polo Ranch had brought together Polo players, umpires, spectators from within and outside the country due to the importance of the game to the socio-economic development of the world,” he said.
Wadada disclosed that whatever money accruable at the end of every tournament, certain percentage would be channelled to support the education of less privileged members of the society through the Wadada Education Foundation.
He added that education is the best legacy parents and governments should leave for their children and citizens as no nation could achieve meaningful progress without sound education.
The former legislator promised to continue to initiate people oriented projects in order to fight hunger, poverty, unemployment and reduce youth restiveness in the state and the country at large.
He thanked the state traditional rulers, Polo experts and dignitaries within and outside the country for attending the tournament and called for a robust cordial relationship toward the overall development of the country.
Also speaking, Dr Hassan Lawal, a former minister of Labour and Productivity, commended Wadada for the initiative.
“The establishment of Polo ranch in Keffi by Hon. Wadada is a very good development not only for Keffi but for Nasarawa state and Nigeria at large.
“We are very happy and proud of Hon. Wadada for establishing the polo ranch in Keffi,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was graced by many dignitaries including the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai I, who led members of the state traditional council. (NAN)
AKW/ESAN/MST
Edited by Abiodun Esan/Muhammad Suleiman Tola