By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The Cross River State Sports Commission has intensified efforts to revive sports development in the state with the inauguration of 27 sporting associations aimed at repositioning the sector for greater competitiveness.
Chairman of the commission, Mr. Lawrence Etta Itanya, disclosed this during the inauguration ceremony held at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, where he pledged to restore the state’s sporting glory through grassroots talent development and stronger collaboration with stakeholders.
Itanya charged the newly inaugurated chairmen and board members to work collectively towards rebuilding Cross River’s sporting fortunes and producing athletes capable of excelling at national and international competitions.
He stressed that government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of sports development, urging the associations to seek sponsorships and alternative funding sources to sustain their activities and programmes.
The commission chairman, however, assured the associations of government support, noting that the commission remained committed to creating an enabling environment for sports growth in the state.
Chairman of the Cross River State Table Tennis Association, Mr. Orok Otu Duke, commended the commission for the confidence reposed in the new boards, promising to deploy their experience towards discovering and nurturing young talents across the state.
Duke, a former chairman of the sports commission, said Cross River had a rich sporting history and expressed optimism that the state could once again produce athletes capable of competing at Olympic level.
Also speaking, Chairman of the State Boxing Association, Mr. Jumbo Michael, and Chairman of the State Athletics Association, Mr. Pius Neji, pledged to work towards winning medals and honours for the state at future national sporting competitions.
The event climaxed with the swearing-in of chairmen and members of the 27 sporting associations inaugurated by the commission.
