By Okerafor Athanasius, Jalingo
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has restated his administration’s resolve towards promoting sports in the State.
Kefas made the statement at the gym hall of Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo, the state capital, while bidding farewell to the state’s contingent traveling to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for the National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games, Ogun 2024.
The 2024 tag for the event came about because the festival was earlier slated for 2024 but postponed to this year.
The Governor, who urged the contingent to return with laurels and medals with a view to making the State proud, advised that they be focused, optimistic and good ambassadors of Taraba.
He pledged to take sports development to greater heights, if they make the government and people of the State proud.
“Compete favourably, to tell the world that there is a state called Taraba that has everything.
“I want to assure you that if you come back with reasonable laurels, I will do my best for you. Go and do your best, put in your best; I’m strongly behind you, but I don’t want casualties,” he rallied them.
Speaking earlier, Permanent Secretary of the State Sports Commission, Mrs. Indo Maxson, lauded the Governor’s efforts in encouraging the contingent.
She pointed out that Kefas’ personal engagement with the team has been awesome, adding that such will ginger their ability to yield positive results during the fiesta.
In an interview, the State Director of Sports, Mr. George Shitta, told newsmen that there are several categories of sports to be competed in, but Taraba, he noted, will participate in 13 events where they can showcase their talents with the comparative advantage on offer.
The National Sports Festival is billed to run from May 16 to May 30, 2025.
Also speaking in an interview, former African badminton champion, Bulus Jimkam, assured that the team is prepared and determined to make the state proud.
Recall that Gov. Kefas had in April, 2025, received the symbolic Torch of Unity at the T.Y. Danjuma Government House, Jalingo, where he pledged that Taraba would participate in the festival.
