A bill seeking to establish the Ebonyi State Annual Sports Festival has passed its first reading at the State House of Assembly.
The first private member’s bill in the Assembly is titled, “A Bill for a Law to Provide for Ebonyi State Annual Sports Festival and Establishment of the State Sports Festival Committee and Other Related Matters.”
The bill was sponsored by Mr Victor Chidi-Nwoke, who represents Abakaliki-North constituency and chairs the House Committee on Youth Development and Sports.
Speaking to journalists shortly after Thursday’s plenary, Chidi-Nwoke described the bill as a “necessity” aimed at building a strong talent pool in the state for future recruitment.
“This bill is sponsored by myself and co-sponsored by other Honourable members, especially those from the committee.
“I came up with this bill because if given consent, it will help to give us edge over other states as well as an advantage to harness talent of our youths.
“Everybody must not be a medical doctor, lawyer or an accountant and I have seen that there are so many youths, who have the talent and through this annual sports festival, will harness those talents and curb youth restiveness,” he explained.
The lawmaker expressed concern over the state’s poor showing at the recently concluded National Sports Festival.
“The bill, when assented to, will correct the challenge facing sports development in the state.
“In the bill, I would like it to be ready before the next national sports festival and that is to ensure that from participants of the state sports festival, we will raise athletes who will participate in the national sports festival.
“I am appealing to other members in the House to give their support to the bill so that we give it accelerated passage as it passed first reading today,” he stated.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Assembly, Chief Moses Odunwa, commended the bill’s sponsor and described the proposal as a welcome development.
Odunwa urged members to study the bill thoroughly and prepare for robust deliberation during its second reading.
