The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, has promised to provide necessary support for discovering hidden talents at the grassroots level, with the aim of representing the state and Nigeria at international sports competitions, particularly football.
The Speaker made this commitment during the inauguration of the maiden Speaker’s Inter-Constituency Football Cup competition at the Assembly complex in Minna on Tuesday. He described sports as a unifying force and a vocation that can positively engage jobless youths and future leaders.
Hon. Sarkin-Daji expressed full support for the Niger State Football Association (NSFA) initiative, which is scheduled to kick off on May 19. He is optimistic that the competition will change the fortunes of many youths across the state’s 25 local government areas.
The Chairman of NSFA, Comrade Yusuf Ahmed, stated that the competition is part of the association’s strategy to identify young talents early. He noted that the Speaker’s football cup will provide opportunities for less privileged individuals in rural areas to showcase their skills.
The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Yahaya Ibrahim, thanked the Speaker for backing the initiative, which he believes will accelerate sports development in the state.
