From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Respite has finally come to the stranded Imo State contingent to the ongoing National Youth Games (NYG) christened Asaba 2024, as pressure from Sports Journalists seem to have compelled the State government to swiftly release the approved fund for the 6th edition of the national biennial sports fiesta.
Recall that Imo contingents were stranded at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri as at evening of last Tuesday, a day set aside by the organizers of the national sporting event for team arrival and accreditation, due to what the leaders described as paucity of fund, resulting to non release of the approved fund for the event.
Thus, noting that further delay in the contingent attendance could led to both national and international embrassment on the side of the State and her Shared Prosperity posture administration, members of Imo State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, used their professional prowess to mount pressure and drew the attention of the State Government as well as her critical stakeholders, forcing the Government of Senator Hope Uzodimma to now release the needed funds that warranted the first batch of the contingent to leave last Wednesday afternoon as all the contingents have been detailed to be in Asaba on or before Thursday afternoon.
According to Authoritative reports gathered from the Imo State Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as the the State Sports Commission, the Governor has now released funds for the state contingent to the crucial biennial sports fiesta.
Recall that the media had earlier gone
blitz reporting that the Imo State contingent who were billed for Asaba as at Tuesday were still stranded at the Dan Anyiam stadium with little or no hope of attending the event in Asaba.
But the young athletes who were emotionally and physically devastated following that sad development were on Wednesday afternoon seen in a joyous mood as they got wind of the financial windfall and the first batch were on the spot motivated for the sporting trip.
Participating teams were billed to report for accreditation and registration on Tuesday while the opening ceremony holds on Wednesday evening.
It’s imperative to inform that as at this Monday notable State contingents like Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Lagos, Niger, Nasarawa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Kaduna, Bauchi, Kogi among others have reportedly arrived Asaba and settled down for the biennial sports fiesta for Nigerian Youths.
