The Edo State Government has pledged its support for the Channels Kids Cup which the Governor, Godwin Obaseki says is in line with his administration’s vision for grass-roots sports development.
Obaseki made the commitment when he received some members of the event’s organising committee at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State Capital.
He lauded the management of Channels Media Group for living up to its corporate social responsibility through the event.
He also added that the state government has already concluded plans to provide sports facilities in primary schools across the state.
“Part of our sports development policy is to encourage school sports. What we are doing is to train more teachers in physical and sports education. We are finalising plans to build more playgrounds or convert more school grounds to sporting arenas; football pitches, racing tracks so that the children will have more avenue to train.”
In his address, the leader of the delegation and General Manager Special Duties, Channels Media Group, Steve Judo noted that the annual talent hunt exercise which is in its 9th year is part of the organisation’s corporate social responsibility.
“The Channels Kids Cup as a matter of fact in its nine years of existence has been an innovational tournament. It is a vision of John Momoh that once you take from a community where you operate; you should also try to give back. Channels kids’ cup is a project for kids between the ages of 7 and 13 years old, the children must be in primary school.”
Also speaking on the success of the competition, a member of the organising committee, Austin Okon-Akpan said the story of the Channels Kids Cup would not be complete without mentioning the impact of Edo State.
“Edo State has done well in supporting this competition and it goes beyond the Channels Kids Competition, it shows that the state has love for the grassroots,” he said.
