Cross River is Open to More Collaborations, Commissioner Tells Sports Potential Nigeria

Cross River Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Agnes Atsu, says the state is open to more collaborations and partnerships that will lead to the development of sports and other related activities.

She stated this on Tuesday 26 March, 2024 when she received officials of Sports Potential Nigeria who were in her office in Calabar to seek collaboration and endorsement for their upcoming sporting event that would boost grassroot sports development in the state.

The Commissioner told the team from Sports Potential Nigeria, a sports consultancy outfit, that Cross River is ready to collaborate and partner with investors and stakeholders who desire to come into the state to develop the sector, assuring them of a conducive environment.

She thanked the Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Ijom Ukam, for the synergy between the two ministries, noting that the collaboration between the Ministry of Sports Development and Sports Potential Nigeria was made possible by Barr. Ukam.

\”I want to thank the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development for deeming it fit to involve the Ministry of Sports Development. This collaboration would have come and ended there if there was no synergy between the two ministries. For him to bring you people to meet and collaborate with the ministry of sports development is a good thing. I want to assure you that we will give it the due consideration it requires,\” she said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Ijom Ukam, who led the team to the sports development ministry, said the consultants would be given all the necessary assistance and encouragement to make sure that the programmes they are bringing to Cross River State see the light of the day.

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports Development, Mr Ekanem Ekpenyong, appreciated Sports Potential Nigeria for coming to Cross River, stating that grassroot sports development is critical as the state has abundant of talents waiting to be discovered.

He said the arrival of the outfit in the state was timely, because according to him, the Ministry of Sports Development ably led by the Honourable Commissioner, is poised to discover and groom talents rather than buying ready-made athletes from outside.

Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Barr. Samson Nwokenye, Director of Sports Potential Nigeria, said as a global sports networking organization, Sports Potential Nigeria\’s interest is in grassroot sports development.

\”In Nigeria we have a grassroot sports initiative where we organize events, give free materials and get our international partners to scout for talents in collaboration with corporate bodies to make commitment towards giving them global opportunities. There are other features. We have the community project. Community projects are aimed at solving problems in the society.

\”For this calendar year we have come to Cross River State to unveil our package for grassroot sports development. It basically entails collaborating with relevant government agencies. Government is the pillar of sports. Government is the regulatory agency. We have collaboration with the Spanish La liga, Italian Serie A and corporate bodies such as Zenith Bank and DSTV,\” he said.

He further stated that under the collaboration, Cross River State government would endorse the grassroot sports development initiative and also provide venue for the events, while DSTV would do the live coverage, and Zenith Bank would provide the sponsorship for the scouted players to build their career in Serie A and La Liga academies in Europe.

Nwokenye also explained that the competition is exclusively for players in the amateur teams from tertiary institutions, secondary schools, both public and private, and that players must be 23 years and below. He added that a total of 32 teams are expected to participate while Cross River, the host state, would be given leverage to field in 12 teams.

He concluded by promising that Sports Potential Nigeria on the long run would look into renovating the hostel facility at the U.J. Esuene Stadium Calabar, or whichever project the state would want the outfit to execute under its community project.

In a remark, the 1st Vice Chairman of Cross River State Football Association, Mr Greg Abang, thanked the delegation from Sports Potential Nigeria for choosing the state for its grassroot sports development initiative, stating that the programme would give \”our youths hope of playing in international football.\”

He assured them that the FA would give them all the cooperation and support they need to make the event a success.

In attendance at the meeting were the state director of sports, management staff of the ministry of sports development, members of the Cross River FA, club owners, among others.

The competition will officially be unveiled in May, 2024.