The Rivers State chapter of the Independent grassroots Sports Development Association (IGSDA) was on 9th of April inaugurated at the board room of the state football Association.
In his acceptance speech, the chairman Mr. Benson Nwogu said Independent Grassroots sports Development Association is a product of years of serious desire to contribute to the success of this great industry that has not been fully maximized in the country.
According to him, the association is prepared to go to where others could not go to discover budding talents from the hinterlands, stressing that God has bless Nigeria with many sporting talents which needed to be discovered, and without going to the hinterland (the grassroot), talents could not be discovered to meet the national team target to make Nigeria proud.
He pointed out that sports development is not a one man business. The talents are all zeroed down in the grassroots areas and getting to them requires the commitment of all and sundry hence the association requires the support of the federal, state and the local government in this direction.
Mr. Nwogu stressed that the association could achieve it aim through the support of outstanding cooperate bodies and companies in Rivers State and beyond through their kind generous donation and with God on the association side, the association will achieve its aim.
He further disclosed that the association reassures the sports administrators of sports in Rivers State sport’s council that the association entry into the business of sports development is to complement what the council has been doing to add to their efforts to shine more at the end of the day. The body therefore extends it hands for partnership with the sports council for sports development in Rivers State.
Speaking as resources person, Mr. Clinton Thompson, former SWAN Chairman, Rivers State and one time general manager of Radio Bayelsa, said school sports is the cradle of sports development. He also charged the Independent Grassroots Sports Development Association to take sports journalists serious and treat them well as partners in the business of sports development, adding that without sports journalists the public will not know their aims and objectives. Therefore, the sports journalist is part and parcel of the association’s programme.
Former chief coach of Super Eagles, Monday Sinclair on his part advised that scientific and education development should be combined to achieve the desired target in sports development.
Hinting that gone are the days were juju was employed to achieve results in sports, in the country, if the Independent Grassroot Sports Development Association (IGSDA) must succeed.
On his part, Director Zone II National Sports Commission (NSC), Mr. Segun Akintotan, emphasized that if the Independent Grassroots Sports Development Association must succeed in it aims and objectives, it must identify with the sports council and schools in the grassroots without that they would not achieve what they have set out to achieve.
Prince Miebi Ogumu, president and founder of the association commended all that attended the occasion and charge the new exco of the association to work relentlessly to achieve the aims and objectives of the association. ####
