Games
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Aug. 27, 2018 (NAN) The maiden Gov. David Umahi Tertiary Institution Games (DUMTIGA) which has suffered several postponements will finally be staged from Sept. 8 to Sept. 15, the organisers said on Monday in Abakaliki.
Charlse Akpuenika, the Ebonyi Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that modalities to ensure a hitch-free competition had been put in place.
Akpuenika said the competition should have been staged earlier but was shifted to enable the participating institutions prepare adequately.
“The state governor in his magnanimity, donated N5 million to enable the 10 participating institution to prepare for the competition with each getting N500, 000.
“The institutions are Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Evangel University Akaeze, Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu and Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana.
“The others are Ebonyi State College of Education Ikwo, Ebonyi State School of Health, Ngbo, School of Health Ezzamgbo, Pacific Institute of Catering and Hotel Management, Abakaliki, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC),” he said.
The commissioner noted that the competition would be significant because private and public owned institutions in the state were being mobilised to adequately prepare and participate in the event.
“The directors of sports in the participating institutions have been notified of the new date, while adequate public enlightenment is going on in the media,” he said.
He noted that aside the DUMTIGA Games, other sports competitions would also be organised within the year, in the bid to revatalise sports in the state.
“The state Executive Council (EXCO) recently approved over N52 mliion for the organisation of these competitions with the school sports to be staged in October.
“The last time the school sports competition was staged in the state was in 2008, while the maiden Divine Mandate (the governor’s campaign slogan) competition will also be organised.
“The divine mandate competition will involve the state’s 171 political wards with one team qualifying from each of the 24 state constituencies to compete in the main event in Abakaliki,” he said.
Akpuenika also said that the maiden Para-military Games would also be staged in the state in November to foster unity, collaboration and friendliness among security agencies in the state.
“Five security agencies have so far, notified us of their intention to participate in the event which will further ensure the fitness of their personnel to effectively discharge their functions.
“We also intend to tap budding talents from the competitions to build the state teams in various sports events for equitable representation in zonal and national competitions.
“We are also in talks with some professional football teams in the country in an effort to float a football team for the state which, hitherto, was disbanded by the preceding administration,” he said. (NAN)
RCO/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)