•Sports ministry, other states kindly take note

By Onochie Anibeze

I write these few lines full of expectation. And I do so very hopeful that action will be taken for I know that it will be in the best interest of the people of Cross River State  and Nigeria in general. I’m not sure Professor Ben Ayade, the Cross River State governor was  properly briefed about this matter.

Governor Ben Ayade

Sir, some years ago, 2009 to be precise, Cross River State started a programme meant to develop sports at the grassroots. It was purely a grassroots programme that could revolutionalise sports in the country if other states could adopt it. Cross River went to schools and rural areas to start sports programmes. They were not interested in winning the sports festival.

They started what some of us have advocated for years. It is similar to what you find in the reports from many workshops, seminars and conferences on sports development but which unfortunately are never implemented. But Cross River took action, thanks to a consulting firm, Kima. They hit the road running. Four years ago, I told everybody that in about ten years or less the result of what Cross River State was doing would manifest and that Nigeria would be better for it. And what did they do?

Kima, the sports consulting firm working for them went to secondary schools and some rural areas to introduce sports. They selected six schools as centres of excellence. They introduced sports to some students and picked few artisans who were potential athletes. And in less than 10 years that programme produced produced Olympians and athletes who have earned money, three of whom have built houses for their parents from their earnings.

And because Nigeria could not take care of three of these athletes Bahrain grabbed them and two competed for them at the Rio Olympics. Liyel Imoke, as governor of Cross River State made this possible. He engaged our own Bruce Ijirigho who was an outstanding athlete in his time and the story has been a pleasant one.

The prospects of that programme were so bright I didn’t see how Professor Ayade would not have continued with it if he was properly briefed. It could be reviewed but certainly not stopped. I listened to Bruce talk about these programmes few days ago and I got emotional about his passion. It is for the sake of Nigerian sports and the people of Cross River in particular that  I plead to Prof. Ayade to continue this programme that could turn around our sports. This programme must not die. Other states should even adopt it. Hide original message

Excerpts from the summary of the Cross River State Comprehensive Sports Development Programme, CSDP, may interest you: This program is nationally acknowledged as one of the great success stories of the Imoke administration and a legacy to future generations. During the first year of the program, CRS went from 10th place in 2009, (prior to CSDP) to 6th place in 2010, at the National School Sports Festival (NSSF).

At the NSSF 2011, CRS emerged first place and national champions for the first time in the history of the state. Since 2011, CRS has now won the NSSF for four consecutive years and are the current defending champions. CRS has won the South South Championship every year since its inception in 2011. CRS has the second best team overall in Nigerian elite athletics today. CRS has the best junior team in athletics, boxing, weight lifting and swimming in Nigeria today.

Since 2010, athletes from this program have represented Nigeria at all levels of international competition and won medals in the process.Since 2010,21 athletes from this program have been admitted into Nigerian universities with full scholarship from program funds.

The program obtained admission with full scholarship for four of its athletes who are currently studying and pursuing their athletics careers in U.S. universities. Three program athletes left Nigeria in January 2015 and are currently representing and winning medals for Bahrain around the world in international competitions.

The CSDP has brought much goodwill, recognition, positive publicity, and pride to CRS and its people. “

PROGRAM RESULTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

2010

• Six world class coaches conducted seminars and practical demonstration workshops for our local games masters/coaches from March 8th to 17th 2010, in Calabar. Oqo]a, lkom and Ugep.

• The First CRS Primary and Secondary Schools Athletics and Swimming Championship was held at the U.J. Esuene Stadium. CaJabar. Over 3,500 boys and girls from all 18 local government areas of the state participated in four days of competition. .
• Conducted annual seminars and practical demonstration workshops for our local games masters and coaches in Calabar, Ogoja. Ikom and Ugep. 2nd Primary and Secondary Schools Athletics and Swimming Championship in Calabar. About 3500 boys and girls from 18 local Government areas of the state participated in this competition.

• We organized the first Cross River/ South-South All Corners Athletics Championship. for all South South athletes in four age categories -under 12.

under 15, under 17, and elite athletes from all over the nation. This competition continues to be a major success and is now permanent in the annual calendar of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). We organized a Boxing Tournament for boxers of all age categories from the Southeast and South South states in Calabar.

CRS boxers performed exceptionally well in this tournament CRS hosted the National School Sports Festival 2011, in Calabar. CRS emerged overall winners and national champions with 116 gold, 118 silver and 59 bronze medals. This is the first time CRS has ever won a national championship.

• CRS successfully negotiated with the AFN and won a five-year hosting right for the All Nigeria Athletics Championship. The 2011 edition the competition was held at the U.J. Esuene Stadium and renamed CR/ All Nigeria Athletics Championship.

• Patience Okon, the best elite athlete produced by this program, represented Nigeria in both the Indoor and Outdoor World Championships of Athletics in

Moscow and Poland, respectively.

2014

• The 5th CRS Primary and Secondary Schools Athletics and Swimming Championship was held in Calabar, Over 3500 athletes from all 18 local Government areas participated in this four day event. 4thCRS South South All Comers Athletics Championship was held at the U.J.Esuene Stadium, Calabar. It was a huge success and CRS won the championship in every age category.

• In 2014, Mercy Ntiaobong, Blessing Ofonime, and Edokilmeh represented Nigeria at the African Junior Athletics Championship, held in Botswana. Mercy and Edoki won gold medals in their events while Blessing won a silver medal.
• In 2014, Blessing Ofonime and Edokilmeh represented Nigeria at the World Junior Athletics Championship held in Eugene, Oregon, USA. Blessing was 6th while Edoki was 9th in the world.

• In 2014, Mercy Ntiaobong represented Nigeria at the Youth Olympic Games in China.
• Monthly payment was made to seventy five of our best primary, secondary school and elite athletes in Athletics, Boxing, Weightlifting and swimming. The least paid received N5,OOO.00 monthly, while the highest paid received N30,OOO.00. We stopped these payments on June 1,2015, due to lack of funds.

• In 2014, Patience Okon had a very productive year representing Nigeria in international competitions. She won multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, World Relays, All Africa Athletics Championship, and World Cup of Athletics. See details in Table 3 below.

• Eleven athletes from our program (athletics, boxing and weightlifting) were in national camp preparing to represent Nigeria in the All Africa Games in September, 2015.

• Patience Okon, represented Nigeria at the IMF World Championship in China. Patience won one gold and one silver medal for Nigeria at the All Africa Games 2015, in Brazzaville, Congo.

• CRS Athlete Austin Bekeh from Obudu represented the Nigerian Youth Team at the All Africa Games 2015 in Brazzaville Congo. Henry Effiong Etim, a youth boxer from CRS represented Nigeria at the Junior Commonwealth Games in Samoa. He was 4th place in the 56kg boxing category and also won a bronze medal for Nigeria in the 4×100 meters relay race.

• Many young athletes have won tens of thousands and millions of Naira in prize money during competitions, as rewards . Three such athletes have built houses ‘for their parents from these funds while still students in secondary school.

• We secured admission and full scholarship for four of our athletes who are currently studying in USA universities based on their athletics and academic performance. Our program assisted twenty one athletes to gain admission into Nigerian universities where they are currently studying on our scholarship.

• Six youths groomed from the Program represented CRS at the South South Tournament for Elite Boxers which held in Benin City from October 15-18, 2015. They won one gold, four silver and one bronze medals. They fought against boxers who are much older and bigger than them. Participation of CRS in this tournament was paid for by the Cuban coach (Enrique Mena) who could not stand the thought of missing it after he had spent much time and effort getting his young boxers ready for this opportunity.

• Three athletes (Blessing Odion Ofonime, Endurance Essien, and Goodnews) left Nigeria and chose citizenship of Bahrain to pursue greener pastures in sports and life. In July 2016, Blessing Odion Ofonime won the gold medal in the 200 meters women event, at the IMF U-20 World Championship held in Poland. This was the first gold medal won by a Nigerian in the history of this competition.

• Endurance Essien was 7th in the 100 meters women while Mercy Ntiaobong, representing Nigeria was 8th in the same race. All three athletes were discovered, groomed and nurtured to stardom by this program.

• In 2013, CRS took delivery of state-of- the-art equipment for various sports worth over 200 million Naira, which were intended for distribution to the six model schools. Unfortunately, and despite our best efforts, the schools are yet to take off due to bureaucratic bottlenecks. To make matters worse, the procured equipment are undistributed and rotting away in storage. This is the biggest failure of this program.

Your Excellency, is this a programme that will die in your tenure? It must not happen. I have read about you and I am sure that they have not properly briefed you about this programme and the equipment rotting away now in storage. I plead that you review this programme and continue it for it is a huge human capital development programme. One star produced by the state will touch the lives of more than 10 people.

They could be more if the products turn international stars, earning foreign exchange. Sports is an industry we all could benefit from. Invest in it and you will never be wrong. I urge other states to adopt a similar programme. Nigeria will be better for it. I expect to read about your action and I’ll continue to lend my own little support. Remain blessed, Your Excellency.