Niger state government to reward over 300 athletes

From Yakubu Mustapha,Minna

Over 300 athletes mostly from primary and secondary schools in the state who have won laurels for the state are to be rewarded by the Niger state government.

Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu has already directed the Secretary to the Government alhaji Idris Ndako Kpaki and the Commissioner for Education Alhaji Danladi Abdulhamid Umar to work out rewards that will be commensurate to the laurels won by the athletes and recommend to him for approval within two weeks.

Aliyu also directed the Government scribe to immediately find a way to redeem the N5m pledge the government made to some of the athletes after they emerged victorious in national and international tournaments in 2013.

The governor made the declarations yesterday when officials of the Ministry of education led by the Commissioner alhaji Danladi Abdulhamid Umar presented the athletes and the trophies and medals one to the Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

Aliyu stressed the need for schools to engage their students in extra curricula activities which he believes will make them an all round student.

“We must participate in all competitions we should encourage the schools to go into other activities other than learning” assuring that the government will support such initiatives in schools.

He expressed happiness that school sports has been revived in schools in the state and called for their sustenance.

Earlier the Commissioner for Education Alhaji Danladi Abdulhamid Umar had told the Governor that over 291 medals and 42 trophies have been won by the state in various competitions between 2008 and last year.

He said some of the teams have qualified to represent the state at International tournaments in USA, Canada and South Africa.