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Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on Tuesday flagged off the 1st South-East Shooting Competition, describing shooting as a strategic sport for talent discovery and youth empowerment.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Umuahia, Mr Otti said that the competition was part of his administration’s efforts to expand sports development beyond conventional disciplines.
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The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, described shooting as a recognised Olympic sport.
He also said that the sport possesses a strong potential to produce national and international champions when developed adequately at the grassroots level.
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He said that his administration was committed to supporting emerging sports that could provide new opportunities for young people and raise Abia’s profile in national competitions.
“Shooting is a globally recognised Olympic sport and when we came on board, I promised to develop sports beyond the conventional ones.
“Today, alongside boxing, football and basketball, shooting has been introduced and promoting sports, such as shooting, will empower our youths and enhance our chances of winning medals in national and international competitions,” Mr Otti said.
He commended the Shooting Association of Abia for organising the competition and assured it of the continued government’s support.
He assured that his administration would support sports associations that demonstrated discipline, transparency, and a commitment to youth development.
He further said that shooting had already shown promise in Abia, citing the association’s medal-winning performance at the last National Sports Festival.
According to him, that performance convinced the government of the need to invest more in the sport and provide platforms for young talents to compete.
Mr Otti said that the grassroots competition would help identify and nurture young shooters for state, national, and international representation.
He expressed the optimism that Abia would soon produce shooters capable of representing Nigeria at major international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
“Our strategy is to catch them young through community-based competitions and nurture them.
“We already have a growing pool of athletes capable of competing at state, national and international levels, and we are confident that Abia will produce future Olympic champions,” he said.
Commendations for Abia govt
In his speech, the President of the Nigeria Shooting Federation, Mohammed Shettima, commended the Abia State Government for its strides in sports development.
Mr Shettima, represented by Peter Ogbe, expressed appreciation to the state government for supporting sports and enabling key milestones in the sector.
He also praised the Abia commissioner for sports and youth development for effectively mobilising resources to implement the state government’s sports development agenda.
He said that Abia was selected to host the federation’s first shooting competition in the South-east due to its achievements in sports administration.
He described the event as impressive.
Also, the South-east Coordinator of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bernard Ezemma, lauded the state for hosting the first edition of the shooting event in the region and described the competition as a visionary initiative.
Mr Ezemma said the government’s commitment had set the administration apart and commended it for successfully organising the competition despite challenges in sourcing equipment.
He emphasised the importance of grassroots sports development, adding that strong foundations produce athletes who could progress to national federations.
Mr Ezemma pointed out that Abia is known for producing top athletes, “both able-bodied and differently-abled, who have brought pride to Nigeria”.
He promised that the commission would continue to support Abia in developing sports and nurturing talents for higher levels of competition.
In his speech, the Abia Director of Sports, George Obioma, expressed the state government’s commitment to developing all sports to give youths more opportunities.
“Abia is leading in many national events.
“Shooting is an Olympic sport, and our athletes have already won medals at the National Youth Games, because our motto is ‘I win and I can,’” he said.
Mr George thanked the NSC, state officials, and partners for their support for sports development in Abia.
“The governor is passionate about sports, and the Abia Sports Council will continue to deliver,” he also said.
Number of participants
Earlier, the NSC South East Zonal Representative (Shooting), Paschaline Edozie, commended the Abia State Government for its commitment to reviving shooting in Abia.
Mrs Edozie said that the government had provided the resources and support needed to ensure shooting thrived in Abia.
She said that each shooting range in the competition cost N10 million to N15 million, while pellets, costing up to N60,000 each, were generously provided for the event.
She said the event brought together athletes from the five South-east states and acknowledged the support of the Abia Sports Council and the media that covered the competition.
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“This event is a testament to the commitment of our leaders to youth development and the growth of sports in the region,” Mrs Edozie said.
The event featured a seminar held from 2 January to 27 January, while the shooting competition was scheduled for 28 January to 30 January.
It has two categories – Under-15 (male and female), and Senior (male and female) – with 45 participants, 105 individual entries and 150 competitors from the five states.
(NAN)
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