By Ene Osang Abuja Th e Chairman of Nasarawa United Football Club Barrister Isaac Danladi, has harped the importance of sports sponsorship, saying its benefi ts are immeasurable. Danladi who is also the Chairman, Chairmen of the 20 premier leagues in the country, made the call while fi elding questions from journalists on the upcoming Nigeria Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA) in Nasarawa state. According to him, sports is a unifying factor bringing people from all works of life together irrespective of their religion, tribe or culture, noting that it keeps young people out of vices as it engages them adequately
He noted the benefi ts of NIPOGA over the years adding that the games had developed students physically, mentally and socio-economically. He however regrets that enough attention is not paid to grassroots sports in the country, pointing out that schools are not equipped with sporting facilities.
”It is quite unfortunate that grassroots sports is not appreciated in the country. We need to go back to the basics because looking for already made sports men and women is responsible for why grassroots sports is not paying off , ” he said. ”It is advisable for those concerned particularly the ministry of youth and sports development to bring back grassroots sports to the schools curriculum and to school in general,” he added.
Th e Chairman called on government and other stakeholders to invest adequately in grassroots sports particularly NIPOGA, NUGA and other institutional sports saying talents can be scouted. He further laud the consistency with the yearly hosting of NIPOGA , while expressing hope that this 19th edition holding in the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa state be one of the best ever organised. ”Th e Governor Almakura is an ardent lover of sports and the Deputy Governor Silos Aliyu Agara is a man who drives sports in the state.
I know there would be serious and massive boost for the games more particularly that it is happening here,” he said.
