Alhassan Yakmut has said that the Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited-sponsored schools athletics championship is a model worthy of emulation. Yakmut is the director responsible for grass-root sports development in the National Sports Commission.
Yakmut, who was in Uyo to represent the sports minister at the Civil Service Games, said he had always been impressed by the Eket event and he wishes the championship could extend to other states of the federation.
He said, "I was at the eleventh edition of the championship and was very impressed with what I saw, that is why I am wishing more states and more organisations to look at the model and do same."
He spoke further on his role as newly appointed Director in the NSC in charge of grass-root sports development.
"My minister is concerned about developing sports at the grass-root level. Perhaps concerned is not the word, I should have said passionate.
"Together with the Director-General, he has resolved to go back to the basics to scout for, discover and groom stars for future glory and I take this appointment as an honour and a challenge to bring their dreams to fruition," the former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Premier League said.
In another development, Eket Local Government Area, last year's winners of the Mobil Schools Athletics Championships will return the trophy they won, on Thursday. The zonal coordinator for Eket, Mr. Asua Asua, has formally applied to the office of the Eket Local Government chairman for the release of the trophy that will be handed over to the Consultant of the event Mr. Paul Bassey at a short but impressive ceremony at the Eket Stadium, venue of the event.
