Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has declared open the inaugural edition of the “Access Bank Prosperity Unity Games.”
He made the announcement in the presence of his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Daniel Igali, and the Director of Sports, Sir Braveman Wodi.
The Governor urged athletes to follow the State Sports Festival’s symbol of unity by abiding by the rules that govern the fiesta.
According to him, the festival is yet another watershed moment in his administration’s history of sports development.
Diri explained that the National Sports Festival was one of the measures put in place in the aftermath of the civil war to renew the fabric of the nation’s social cohesion and promote the people’s common destiny.
He emphasised that the Festival’s organisers recognised the unifying power of sports in Bayelsa.
While thanking the sponsor, Access Bank, the governor stated that the only way to prosperity is to be in good health, and that sports development is the best medicine for prosperity.
He stated that the primary goal of his administration is to promote youth development through initiatives that empower and create jobs as springboards for national development goals.
In a welcome address, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Hon. Daniel Igali, appreciated the Bayelsa State Government and the sponsor, Access Bank, for their foresight in hosting the inaugural Prosperity games.
He said he was elated to witness the maiden edition of the Bayelsa State Sports Festival tagged Access Bank Prosperity Unity Games, saying that State achievement in the sports sector in the last three years was indicative of the doggedness of the Prosperity administration towards sports development.
The commissioner explained that the games will feature 240 team officials, 140 technical officials and 194 officiating officials across the fourteen sports battling for 293 gold, 293 silver and 387 bronze medals, pointing out that the events would provide a veritable platform to discover untapped talents in the State.
In a goodwill message, the Chief Executive officer of Access Bank, Dr Herbert Wigwe, represented by the Relationship Manager, Access Bank, Mr Kakiri Miebi-Flint, said the bank was pleased to collaborate with the Bayelsa State Government to actualize the prosperity mantra.
He maintained that Bayelsa State has had tremendous achievements in the sports sector in the last three years, noting that the bank is working towards building a prosperous Bayelsa State through sports.
