Gov. Sule tasks youths to promote national development through sports 

From Leo Zwànke, Lafia 

The governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule at the weekend tasked youths to develop their skills and promote national development through sports.

Sule made this known while declaring open the second edition of Shaibu Mohammed North-Central Table Tennis Championship held at the Lafia Sports Arena in Nasarawa State.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the second edition of the Shaibu D. Mohammed North-Central Zonal Table Tennis Championship was organized in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government.

The governor, Sule, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Jafaru Ango, highlighted the significance of youths empowerment and sports development.

The two-day tournament features top table tennis players from the North-Central Zone, including participants from Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Niger States, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

According to the governor, Sule: “This championship is proof of our commitment to promoting sports and empowering young people in the North-Central Zone.

“It is an opportunity for our youth to showcase their talents, develop their skills, and build their confidence. Sports have the power to transform lives and promote national development” he stated.

He further commended the organizers, led by the tournament sponsor, Shaibu D. Mohammed, for their efforts in reviving table tennis in the region and fostering unity through sports.

Earlier in a remark, Shaibu Mohammed expressed his passion for the sport and his motivation for staging the championship. “Table tennis was my childhood sport, and it is unfortunate that it is declining in our area. This tournament aims to revive it and identify hidden talents, which we will nurture into global stars,” he said.

Explaining the choice of Nasarawa as the host state, Mohammed lauded its “serenity, security, hospitality, and world-class facilities” and thanked Governor Sule for creating an enabling environment for the championship’s success.

The North-Central Zonal Coordinator of the National Sports Commission, Saka Akeem, also commended the initiative.

“The vision of the National Sports Commission is to foster public-private partnerships because the government alone cannot do it. This competition is a step toward discovering global table tennis greats like Aruna Quadri and Olufunke Oshonaike,” Akeem said.

Participants are competing in various categories, including Senior Men, Junior Male and Female (U-14 to U-18), and Cadet Boys and Girls (ages 10-13). Prizes include ₦50,000 for Bronze Medalists, ₦100,000 for Silver Medalists, and ₦200,000 for Gold Medalists.

The organizers have provided transportation fees, hotel accommodation, and feeding allowances for the 56 participants, comprising six players, a coach, and a Director of Sports from each state.

An exhibition match between Jafaru Ango and Shaibu Mohammed highlighted the opening ceremony, with the Commissioner narrowly winning 10–9.

The championship continues Saturday  with finalists set to be crowned and celebrated for their performances in promoting sports excellence in the region.