By Gracious Akujobi The Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi on Tuesday flagged-off the “Rhythm N’ Play” sports programme in Nasarawa State.
The programme, which was kicked off at the Government Science Secondary School, Nasarawa Eggon had close to 1000 students from nine secondary schools in the state in attendance.
The Rythm N’ Play program which was launched by President Goodluck Jonathan on June 6, 2013 was targeted at introducing two million kids to sports within two years.
Abdullahi while kicking-off the event, expressed optimism that flag off in Nasarawa as a pilot scheme is targeted at introducing two million kids to sports within two years and believes that the programme would help groom kids into future champions.
“I have no doubt in my mind that amongst these children here today, we have future champions.
We will continue to support them (the kids) and with the commitment of the Nasarawa State Government, we will build these children up,” Abdullahi said.
The Minister presented sporting equipment to the nine schools that took part in the ceremony assuring that more would be provided for distributions to more schools to enable them participate in inter-school competitions.
Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Al-Makura thanked the Minister for choosing His State as pilot state for the programme while expressing optimism that the initiative would go a long way to improve the socio-economic status of the kids as it will be integrated into the school curricular for good results to be achieved.
“This Rhythm N’ Play initiative for secondary school sports is an impetus to our commitment to make sports one of the key components of youths empowerment Programmes”
“It is also a drive to revitalise the education sector in the state.
“I call on school administrators across the state to play their role of ensuring that this initiative of establishing Rhythm N’ Play school sports clubs is sustained and given utmost priority.
“This will go a long way in making our students discover their potentials in sports and also develop their brains for academic excellence,’’ Al-makura said.
