ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government has signed an agreement with Hideas Plus Limited to identify and groom young talents in sports.
Hideas Plus Limited is a sports consultancy firm and organisers of the National Principals Cup Competition among secondary schools in the country.
The government also said it was working towards establishing another football team to brighten the sport’s fortunes of the state.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Government House, Yenagoa, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, expressed delight over the partnership agreement to identify and groom young talents in sports, a statement by his media aide, Doubara Atasi, said on Friday.
Ewhrudjakpo noted that the development is coming at a time when the government is working towards raising another professional football team for the state.
Ewhrudjakpo, who said sports had contributed greatly to the overall development and unity of the country, expressed the belief that the partnership would be mutually beneficial to the firm and the state.
He said: “The deal provides an opportunity for the state to make steady progress in sports development. Bayelsa is ready to host the Principals’ Cup competition.
“Also, the state Government is working towards establishing another football team to brighten the sports fortunes of the state.”
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Daniel Igali, said the partnership was to ensure that talents discovered in the Principals’ Cup competition would be groomed to form the nucleus of the nation’s future teams.
He pointed out that the terms of the agreement made it clear that the state government would not put any funds into the project, stressing that only the firm would scout for sponsorship from the organized private sector for the next three years.
The sports commissioner thanked the Deputy Governor for the effective leadership he had displayed in sports administration since assuming office in the state.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Hideas Plus Limited, Mr. Tony Pemu, said his sports consultancy firm had organized the Principals’ Cup for the last six years, with Zenith Bank as key partner and sponsor.
He said Hideas Plus Limited would develop a good training pitch for every secondary school which emerges champion in each state and groom the talents discovered through the competition.