Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, has attributed the commendable performance of the state’s athletes at the ongoing National Sports Festival to his administration’s investment in sports development.
Speaking during the 164th State Executive Council meeting, Governor Diri expressed delight over Team Bayelsa’s performance, saying the state is now second on the medals table.
The governor noted that sports was projecting the state in a positive light and engaging youths productively.
He implored the state’s athletes not to rest on their laurels and continue to compete effectively, promising a befitting reception and reward at the end of the festival.
Diri also lauded the state’s female football team, Bayelsa Queens, for emerging champions of the Nigerian Women Professional League and qualifying to represent Nigeria in the Confederation of African Football Women’s Champions League.
He also expressed delight at the state’s male team, Bayelsa United, for putting up a commendable showing in the Nigeria Professional Football League.
The governor hailed the performance of Bishop Dimieari Grammar School and Saint Jude’s Girls Secondary School, which both won the zonal basketball tournament for schools at Asaba, Delta and qualified for the national finals.
Diri said the performance of the state’s sportsmen and women encouraged his administration to commit more than N100 billion to constructing an Olympic-standard stadium.
He commended youths for their exemplary conduct during the recent Boro Day anniversary celebration and cautioned them against cultism and other vices.
The governor advised youths to take advantage of the government’s investments in sports and skills acquisition to be useful to themselves and make the state proud.
He said, “I have been receiving daily updates from the Commissioner for Sports and Team Bayelsa is doing very well at the National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
”We are hopeful that we will overtake Delta on the medals table.”
Diri also spoke about recent rival cult group clashes in the state capital, advising culprits to turn a new leaf.
He said, “Again, I want to advise youths that their lives are very precious to us. It is not too late to leave cultism and embrace a better life.
”You do not need hard drugs. Tell those buying drugs for you to train you with skills as that is what your government is about. Shun cultism.”
