Anambra begins registration, certification of sports officials

By Joseph Egbeocha

The Anambra State Government has commenced a statewide data capturing and registration exercise for sports instructors, officers and administrators as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots sports development.

The Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Patrick Agha Mba, monitored the exercise at registration centres in Aguata, Awka South, Dunukofia and Onitsha North Local Government Areas.

The registration exercise will be followed by retraining and certification of sports personnel across the state.

Some participants, including football coach Chukwuneme Nwankwo of Isuofia, gym instructor Lucy Onwo of Nawfia, general coach Onyeyili Matthew of Dunukofia and basketball coach Odinaka Mmaduka of Onitsha North, commended the ministry for the initiative.

They described the exercise as smooth and expressed optimism that it would contribute to the overall development of sports in Anambra.

A Sports Desk Officer with the Aguata Local Government Education Authority, Chukwuebuka Ezenwanili, also confirmed that the exercise was progressing smoothly, adding that more practitioners were expected to register before its conclusion.

Speaking after the monitoring exercise, Agha Mba commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for supporting the state’s youth development agenda.

He said the registration was designed to establish a strong foundation for grassroots sports development by integrating sports practitioners into the state’s development plans.

The commissioner urged sports practitioners across Anambra to participate in the programme, noting that the state government had a broader agenda for sports development.