Otti calls on National Sports Commission to patronize made-in Aba sports products
By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
Abia state Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has called on the National Sports Commission to deepen its sports development partnership with the State by patronising made -in Aba sports shoes and other sports wears.
Governor Otti, made this call when he received a delegation of the National Sports Commission led by the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, paid him a courtesy call in his office on Wednesday.
He said that his administration has taken a giant step by setting up the Aba Export Growth Lab to standardize every product emanaging from the State.
“When you talk of apparels, fabrics, shoes, and other fashion products, everything is Abia. Yesterday, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, we commissioned the Aba Export Growth Lab. And the idea is to have a structured way to support apparels, garments and leather industrialists.
“To upgrade their products, make them more competitive, brand them properly, and also create access to markets, particularly international markets,” Gov. Otti stated.
He said his administration sees sports as a uniting factor and catalyst for the economic rejuvenation of Abia and noted that his administration is doing everything possible for the promotion of sports, adding that, he has mapped out a new site for the establishment of a FIFA standard stadium which will accommodate a games village and other sporting activities.
The State Chief Executive said that sports economy is the way to go as sports has the capacity to build the future of youths and create opportunities for them
“So, when you talk of sports economy, I agree with you completely. That is the direction we are going. We are also very open, even players, our young people, bringing them on, catching them young, and supporting them to grow.
“You know the truth about this is that when you do some of these things, you may not know exactly what impact you are making. Some of these people (being empowered) will never return to poverty,” Gov. Otti maintained.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko said that one of the visions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as contained in the renewed hope agenda is to make sports one of the economic drivers of the nation.
He noted that Mr. President has taken steps to cede the mandate of the Federal Ministry of sports to the National Sports Commission with a view to professionalizing sports administration and development.
Mallam Dikko who said that the Commission would be willing to partner the State Government in many areas including patronising made in Abia products, called for the setting up of a Sports Commission in the State that will be under the direct supervision of the Governor.
He thanked Governor Otti for his unrelenting interest in sports development and his plans to develop a special economic zone which would serve as a rallying point for manufacturing of sports related products and expressed the Commission’s readiness to collaborate with the State in sports development.
‘We have a vision to encourage all Sub-nationals to set up sports commissions to ensure that sports develops faster. We will work together to see how we can upscale sports in the State.
“We are taking sports as a national asset, it’s only sports that can bring the country together.
“You are taking a lot of steps towards sports which is what we are trying to do. We noticed clear attention you are giving to sports,” Dikko stated.
