THE Federal Government has called for the establishment of National Athletics Academy in Nigeria.Speaking at the just concluded 11th edition of Akwa Ibom/Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Joint Venture School Athletics Championship last weekend, the Acting Sports Minister and Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Patrick Ikeji, said the time has come for Akwa Ibom State Government and MPN to partner the commission to established an athletics academy in Eket.The minister, who was represented by a director in the NSC, Alasan Yakmuth, said such an academy would help to groom the talents that have been discovered during the event. The sports minister emphasized: 'To have athletes of international standard, there is urgent need to have a place where they are trained and monitored to grow.'I am not leaving this place without taking the statistics of the outstanding athletes today. They will do better if they are given better facilities to train with.'The minister, who cited the example of football academy in Nigeria, which is helping to produce international stars, and the Kalabar Sports Academy in Jamaica, established in the days of slavery, thanked Mobil for sustaining the championship for 11 consecutive years and promised the readiness of the Ministry of Sports to partner the Joint Venture and Akwa Ibom State Government.On his part, Governor Godswill Akpabio thanked MPN for helping the state government to engage the youths positively through athletics by giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents and potentials.Represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Onyong Asuquo, the governor said: 'Let me use this opportunity to express appreciation to Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited for 11 years of sustained sponsorship and for continued partnership with Akwa Ibom State Government for development of athletics in the state.'It is significant that athletics engages the youths positively, giving them the opportunity to showcase their talent and potentials.'The Managing Director/Chairman, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Mark R. Ward, represented by Mike Leach, congratulated every athlete that participated in the championship.At the end of the event, Aniekeme Alphonsus Etim from Ikot Ekpene zone emerged overall best female athletes by taking the first position in 100and 200 metres respectively while Imo G. Tobby from Ikot Abasi zone emerged overall best male athlete for the year by taking first position in the 800 and 1500 metres track events.
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