THE Vice President, Namadi Sambo on Tuesday received the 'Torch of Unity', signalling the official countdown to the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival tagged 'Eko 2012' holding from November 27 to December 9 in Lagos.The event took place at the State House. Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi presented the festival torch which Sambo passed on to the host Governor of the 18th edition, Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos state.Sambo congratulated the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi whose state hosted the last edition of the biennial games for a successful hosting.The Lagos state Governor was told by Sambo that the success of the 17th National Sports Festival had left a very big shoe for Lagos State, praying that "we will have a successful festival in Lagos".Fashola in his speech commended the people and government of Rivers State 'for a wonderful show.'Said he: 'We will host a championship befitting of the very proud heritage and history of the National Sports Festival and perhaps more importantly to say that as I receive this torch of unity and it begins its journey round this country, it will serve the purpose for which it was inaugurated in the very first place to unify and bring closer our people through sports.''We are prepared to meet the timeline set by the organising committee and all hands are on deck. We intend to host a championship that will meet all of the objectives of the national sports festival not only in terms of bringing Nigerians closer, unifying Nigerians but also in terms of achieving talent development in sports and bringing harmony into sports', Governor Fashola assured.'Eko 2012' main organizing committee is chaired by the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr Patrick Ekeji.
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