Gov. Dickson announces special recruitment, scholarship for athletes

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has announced a special annual recruitment programme and scholarship, for young talented sports men and women of the state origin.

The governor also directed immediate employment of 100 athletes between July and August.

A statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relation’s to the governor, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, on Tuesday, quoted the governor as having made the comment at the closing ceremony of the 3rd edition of the Governor Dickson Wrestling Classics at the Indoor Sports Hall, Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.

The governor said that the beneficiaries of the scholarship programme would have the opportunity to study in any higher institution of their choice within or outside the state.

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He said, From now on, the Government of Bayelsa State shall mandate the Ministry of Sports Development to discover young budding talents across all sports in the state.

“I hereby authorize the recruitment of between 50-100 sports men and

women every year and the first 100 will be employed between now and next month”.

The governor directed the Commissioner for Sports  Development, Mr. Perekiye Buruboyefe, to start the process of bringing back athletes of the state’s origin who are representing other states during sporting events.

He described Bayelsa State as the headquarters of wrestling in the country.

He who assured that the tournament would be sustained even after his tenure as governor thanked the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Hon. Daniel Igali, and his board for choosing Bayelsa as venue for the national wrestling classics.

The governor said his administration has prioritised sports development since assumption of office and expressed delight that students from the Sports Academy, Asoama, were represented at the competition

In his address, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mr. Olusola Adesade, said the competition would be used to select wrestlers to represent the country at the 12th All African Games in Morroco in August and qualification for Tokyo 2020.

He commended the governor for his enormous support for the promotion wrestling and federation  such as the building of a gym for wrestling in the state.

According to him, Bayelsa has become the leading state in the African continent  in terms of wrestling. Bayelsas Sate Commissioner for Sports Development, Mr. Perekiye Buruboyefe, commended the state government for demonstrating its readiness to support sports development by providing funds for athletes to take part in competitions.

He explained that 513 athletes, 130 officials, 26 states and 16 clubs took part in the 3rd edition of the Governor Dickson Wrestling Classics, adding that one of the talents discovered during the event was a student of the Sports Academy, Asoama.

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In glowing tributes, President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Hon. Daniel Igali, expressed appreciation to Governor Dickson for his dedication to sports development in the country.

He recalled that the was the only one that made to personal sacrifice to attend the 2014Commonwealth Games in Galsgow, Scotland to encourage his people.

He also thanked the governor for hosting and rewarding of the Wrestling Team to the Commonwealth Games in Goldcaost, Australia.

He also commended the Restoration administration for being the first state in the country to commence construction of a befitting wrestling

gym of international standards, noting that the Federation has now decided to use Bayelsa as their training and camping base.