The Anambra State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, has disclosed that the state’s sports development policy will focus on grassroots participation, with local governments playing a central role in talent discovery and development.
Speaking on Thursday while receiving members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra State Chapter, the Commissioner emphasized that the Ministry’s strategy is aimed at harnessing sporting talents across communities and schools in the state.
Hon. Agha Mba expressed appreciation to SWAN for the courtesy visit, describing the association’s leadership as proactive and passionate about sports development.
He commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his commitment to sports and youth empowerment, noting that the governor remains intentional about creating opportunities for young people through sports.
According to the Commissioner, recent engagements with sports stakeholders were geared towards fostering collaboration and identifying practical solutions to challenges facing the sector.
“We need partnerships and the involvement of private individuals because government cannot do it alone,” he said.
Agha Mba revealed that discussions are ongoing with the governor and the State Executive Council on a comprehensive sports development framework that will place local governments at the forefront of talent identification and nurturing.
He explained that plans are underway to establish sports academies that will provide young athletes with proper training, skills development, capacity building, and entrepreneurial education.
Under the proposed framework, local governments will work with schools, communities, and individuals to discover and develop talents in various sporting disciplines.
“We will tap talents from communities that can swim, wrestle and excel in other sports, then harness them by creating an enabling environment and providing basic facilities,” he stated.
The Commissioner further disclosed plans for each of the 21 local government areas in the state to have mini stadiums, funded through government allocations, subject to the approval of proposals currently before the governor.
Earlier, SWAN Chairman in Anambra State, Comrade Chimezie Anaso, commended Governor Soludo for appointing a dedicated Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development and expressed confidence in Agha Mba’s ability to reposition sports in the state.
Anaso noted that SWAN is ready to partner with the Ministry in promoting sports activities and achievements across Anambra.
He also expressed concerns about the performance of Solution FC, which currently competes in the Nigeria National League (NNL), stating that many sports enthusiasts expected the club to have gained promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) by now.
The SWAN chairman further advocated greater community ownership of the club and called for the emergence of more players from Anambra teams into the national football team.
In separate remarks, SWAN Vice Chairman, Comrade Pamela Eboh, former SWAN Chairman Comrade Emma Ndukuba, and SWAN Secretary Uche Ndeke urged the Commissioner to include sports journalists in national sporting events to enable firsthand coverage and storytelling.
They also called for increased government support for female athletes and greater investment in sports development across the state.
