BAYELSA GOVERNOR LAUDS STATE’S PERFORMANCE AT NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has attributed the commendable performance of the state’s athletes at the ongoing National Sports Festival to his administration’s investment in sports development. In a statement, Daniel Alabrah, Chief Press Secretary, quoted Governor Diri as saying the state’s performance at the festival was a result of the government’s commitment to investing in youths. Daniel Alabrah said Governor Diri expressed delight over the performance of Team Bayelsa at the festival, noting that the state was doing quite well and was currently second on the medals table. “I have been receiving daily updates from the Commissioner for Sports and Team Bayelsa is doing very well at the National Sports Festival in Ogun State,” Diri said. “We are hopeful that we will overtake Delta on the medals table.” The governor implored the state’s athletes not to rest on their laurels and continue to compete effectively. Diri promised that the government would give a befitting reception and reward to the contingent at the end of the festival. Alabrah further quoted Diri as saying the government would continue to support the state’s athletes. Diri also lauded the state’s female football team, Bayelsa Queens, for emerging champions of the Nigerian Women Professional League and qualifying to represent Nigeria in the Confederation of African Football Women’s Champions League. He expressed delight that the state’s male team, Bayelsa United, put up a commendable showing in the just-concluded Nigeria Professional Football League. The governor hailed the performance of Bishop Dimieari Grammar School and Saint Jude’s Girls Secondary School, which both won the zonal basketball tournament for schools at Asaba and qualified for the national finals. Diri said the performance of the state’s sportsmen and women encouraged his administration to commit over N100 billion to constructing an Olympic-standard stadium. Alabrah further quoted Diri as cautioning youths against clitism and other vices, urging them to take advantage of the government’s investments in sports and skills acquisition to be useful to themselves and make the state proud. “I want to advise youths that their lives are very precious to us. It is not too late to leave cultism and embrace a better life,” Diri said.