From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

All is set for the maiden edition of the Bayelsa State Sports Festival as 1,144 across the eight local government areas are set to slug it out in 14 sports.

The opening ceremony is slated for the 27th and the competition would run till the 30th of March rounding up on the 1st of April.

The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali, who disclosed this in a press conference in Yenagoa said the festival tagged Access Bank Prosperity Games will hold from 25th of March to 1st April, 2023.

According to him, the decision to hold the Sports was borne out of the success story of global attention recorded by the state government in sports in the last three years.

He noted that the state’s exploits in different sports were a result of the foresight of the sport-loving Governor Douye Diri in sports development.

Igali listed the 14 sports the athletes would participate in to include athletics, boxing, canoeing, Judo, Football, Chess, Karate, table tennis, draught, swimming taekwondo, scrabble, para-swimming, wrestling and weightlifting.

The Commissioner commended Access Bank for sponsoring the event, stressing that the financial institution has shown what was expected of corporate organizations in Bayelsa State.

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He also gave kudos to Governor Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo for their devotion to the development of sports in Bayelsa State.

Also speaking the co-chairman of the Access Bank prosperity games and Director of Sports, Sir Braveman Wodi, explained that the move to host the state Sports Festival became imperative due to the charge of the governor to the ministry to collaborate with the private sector.

He stated that the focus of the festival would be basically on local athletes who are yet to participate in the National Sports Festival.

This, according to him, would enable the state to discover raw talents that will represent the state and the country on the global stage.

Relationship Manager Access Bank, Mr Kakiri Miebi- Flint who disclosed that the services of the bank as the sponsors are beyond banking said N110 million has been released for the festival.

He expressed optimism that the sport’s showpiece would improve the lives of the youths in the state and also bring out raw talents from the various local government areas and communities.

He commended the Bayelsa State government for its dedication noting that Access Bank is pleased to collaborate with the government as part of its corporate social responsibility to the people of the state.