By Kelvin Obambon
Cross River State Government will embrace any sport initiative that will positively engage the youths and take their minds away from social vices, while also channelling their energies towards worthwhile ventures.
This assertion was made by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports Development, Hon. Ekanem Ekpenyong, when he received organizers of the upcoming Calabar Skate-Athon in his office in Calabar, on Monday.
Being the first of its kind in Cross River and Nigeria as a whole, the Calabar Skate-Athon, the SA noted, would provide major take-aways for which the state could factor into the agenda of the Ministry of Sports Development, ably led by the dynamic Commissioner, Hon. Agnes Atsu.
“We have a Governor that loves and speaks sports, and a very hard working Commissioner who is already executing the mandate of the Ministry of Sports Development meticulously. With this kind of leadership in place, we are looking into breaking new grounds in sports development. We are working to improve and consolidate what we already have on ground when it comes to sports. Your coming here to organize the Calabar Skate-Athon is a welcomed initiative. We hope to see the event create positive impact on our youths. The Governor places more premium on youth development through the instrumentality of sports and other value-driven enterprises.
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“Beyond this, we look forward to assess the value and impact the Calabar Skate-Athon can have on the state so that we will look into it and see how it can be incorporated into our sports development agenda. However, we’ll see to it that there is a conducive environment for you to organize the event successfully. In the end, we are optimistic of a win-win situation for you the organizers, the skaters and the state,” the governor’s aide stated.
Earlier, Mr Daniel Damola, Chairman Board of Trustee of Nigeria Inland Skating and Chief Executive Officer of SRHD Sport Management, intimated that Skate-Athon is a skating championship that “we are bringing to Cross River State, just like His Excellency has given the mandate to the Honourable Commissioner of Sports Development to make sure that she spearheads sporting activities to bring about change to the youths of the state.
“In light of that I think we have the mandate through the office of the Honourable Commissioner to partner and develop sports in Cross River State. Having done one event, “Calabar Go Dance”, we now move into other phases of our sporting activities for the good people of Cross River State. We are looking at so many sports we are bringing to the state, one of which is the Skate-Athon. Skate is all about people using special shoes to run on hard surface. They can use it for five aside football, hockey and so many other things.
“Skate-Athon Calabar is the inaugural edition of combining all sporting activities in a particular location. We are also going to have skate marathon, whereby athletes will come from across the country and also from outside Nigeria to compete in Cross River. It’s a big event coming to the state. That’s the first of its kind in Nigeria,” he said.
Damola who was represented by Mr Pedro Eyet, said that the event which is expected to hold between the 14th and 15th of June, 2024, will among other benefits, put Cross River on the world map and also consolidate its status as tourist’s destination.
“It will bring immense benefits to the state. Sport in totality, whether known or unknown, if it is hosted in a particular place that it has not been hosted before, it will be remarkable to the indigenes of the state. The event will drive tourism and more awareness that the state is sports friendly. It will make people to know that the state is peaceful and also attract them to come and invest. Participants will be given prizes such as cash and other consolation prizes the very same day we conclude the event,” he said.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of the Calabar Skate-Athon branded t-shirt to the Special Adviser on Sports Development by Mr Eyet.