National Sports Festival: Team Nasarawa Aims To Finish Among Top-Ten States – Yargwa

By Ajuwa Victor

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nasarawa State, Amb. Lucky Isaac Yargwa, has expressed confidence that the State’s contingent participating at the 21st edition of the National Sports Festival tagged #Delta2022, will end the biannual multi-sport fiesta on high.

Yargwa disclosed this on Saturday evening at the Media Centre of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, while briefing journalists covering the Sports Festival.

According to him, “We are participating in 27 Sporting Events.

“In all of these Sports, we are very confident of surpassing our previous medal records.

“So far, Team Nasarawa has won three medals – one Silver from Para-Table Tennis and two Bronze coming from Taekwondo Events(Poomsae Individual and Poomsae Team Events).

“Some of our athletes are already in the medal stage in some sports, and before the end of today, we should have more medals in our cabin.

“There are many other sporting events we are yet to commence participation in.

“But I want to assure you that before the end of the Festival, Team Nasarawa will be among the top ten highest medal-winning States.”

He noted that members of the State’s contingent​ were adequately supported, both financially and morally, by the Government to enable them excel at the Event.

The Commissioner further revealed that Governor Abdullahi Sule had redeemed his 16.5million naira pledge to athletes who won medals at the 2021 National Sports Festival held in Benin City, Edo State.

Yargwa commended the Governor for the huge investment in youth and sports development in the State, explaining that the Governor’s magnanimity and passion for sports and talents development had made Nasarawa State a force to reckon with in Nigeria and beyond.

He advanced that the Governor Sule-led administration was deliberately embarking on the construction of sports infrastructure across the State to provide an enabling ground for talent discovery, leisure and revenue generation.

The Commissioner applauded Organizers of the 21st National Sports Festival for providing a serene setting for the Event to hold.

“I must commend the Organizers of the Sports Festival, including the Delta State Government, the Federal Government and Partners for ensuring that this Event doesn’t only hold, but meets the required standard.

“The facilities are wonderful. The coordination is welcoming, and the hostel accommodation, especially for my contingent members, is excellent.”

He called on Organizers of the Sports Festival to desist from any act that would jeopardize the essence of establishing the multi-sport meet.

In a related development, Amb. Lucky Isaac Yargwa, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, has assured the State’s athletes of adequate and necessary support throughout the duration of the Sports Festival in Asaba.

He gave the assurance when he was addressing members of Team Nasarawa at their hostel accommodation in Asaba.

Describing athletes of the State at the Event as “Main Actors”, Yargwa said Government would continue to give priority to those who work hard to bring glory and fame to the State and her people.

He promised to handsomely reward any athlete and their coaches who win any medal at the Sports Festival.

Yargwa, however, charged the athletes and coaches to justify the huge resources being invested in them by Governor Abdullahi Sule by winning medals.

On Day three of the National Sports Festival, Team Nasarawa has won one Silver and two Bronze Medals, respectively.

The 2022 National Sports Festival kick-started on 29th November, 2022, and will climax on Saturday, 10th December, 2022.