The Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung has commended the University of Port Harcourt for setting high standards in the development of modern sports in Nigeria.
Dalung gave the commendation when he visited the High Performance Center which is sited in the University.
The Minister thanked the Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Ndowa E. S. Lale for providing facilities, accommodation and warm hospitality for athletes to train ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
“In African tradition, if somebody offers accommodation to your children, it is natural that you follow their footsteps to see how they’re faring. We’re here to convey the appreciation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari to the University for providing the facilities and accommodation for training our athletes for the Rio Games.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports is also grateful for your innovation to drive sports to an advanced stage of scientific development. There is no doubt that sports has graduated from sheer determination and skill to science. Nigeria’s sports cannot remain stagnant and expect to cope with the dynamics of modern sports. This is the area we will wish the University of Port Harcourt to be a key partner” Dalung stated.
The Minister pledged government’s continuous support to the University of Port Harcourt in ensuring that all necessary facilities that will lead to the attainment of a modern and functional high performance center is realized despite the paucity of funds.
“For a high performance center to be effective, it must be housed in an academic environment, because it is not only for training but there are also curricula that are associated with it. After my visit, you may guide in taking a proper decision as to what should be the status of a national high performance center in Nigeria”.
In his response, the Vice Chancellor Prof Lale extolled the University as a citadel of sports excellence in the country adding that they were grateful to have the High performance center cited in the institution.
“This University ranks very high , not just in Nigeria but in West Africa when it comes to university sports so we need facilities to justify that status. I therefore implore you to assist and position us adequately for the status conferred upon us”.
The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Dr Solomon Ogba said in a vote of thanks, that he was excited to have the minister visit the high performance center at a very short notice. He said the HPC was the latest and scientific way of training athletes.
“Those who are involved in the running of the HPC including the exercise physiologist, bio mechanics, human kinetics etc are professionals which could only be gotten from a university environment. This center has been training our athletes for the Olympics since November and the minister has come to see how the athletes are faring with their training. I urge the University authority to support the minister to achieve success in sports development”.
Dalung visited the High performance Center, students’ hostel, dining area and held a private meeting with the athletes. He is due to visit the High performance center in Pretoria this weekend to compare notes that will help in re- positioning Nigeria’s HPC to international standards.
