Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has charged relevant government agencies to urgently establish an effective retirement plan for sports professionals in the country.
Ikpeazu said this on Friday, when members of the Aba All Stars Football Club visited him at the Abia Government Lodge, Aba.
He said that it was pertinent to put an effective retirement system in place for sports professionals that represented the country at various competitions.
The governor opined that such measure would help to boost the morale of budding sports professionals and also accelerate sports development.
“There is something that is missing in sports management in Nigeria and that is adequate plan for a future for national athletes and sportsmen.
“It is not encouraging and efforts should be made to find a way to guarantee that anyone that represents Nigeria at any competition should have a secured future.
“The most important thing is that these great athletes stand as icons to the younger ones and I pray that we will get it right,” Ikpeazu said.
He further said that the state government would initiate a programme to facilitate smooth transition from professional sports to an active life for sportsmen and women as well as support struggling sports veterans.
He described sports as a veritable tool for engaging youths in progressive ventures.
He congratulated the club for making Abia successful in the competition.
He expressed the readiness of the government to support the club in the 2022 version of the tournament slated for October in Edo.
The governor expressed delight that his administration had positioned Abia on the path of sustainable development. He promised that the welfare of the people of Abia would remain a top priority to his government.
Earlier, the Chairman of the club, Mr Aloysus Olisaegbo, said they came to present the trophy won by the club in 2021.
Olisaegbo also said that the win gave them the opportunity to represent the South-East in this year’s edition of the tournament.
He commended the government for its achievements in infrastructure development.
He gave assurance that the club under his watch would support policies and programmes that would boost sports development in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation comprised football veterans, who had at various times done the state and country proud in national, continental and international tournaments.
The list included Obinna Nwanneri, Emeka Nwanna and Ndidi Anumunu, among others. (NAN)
