Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
A Pan-African University, African School of Economics (ASE), has partnered the Rivers State government to develop sports education in the state.
Speaking with THISDAY at the weekend, after a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Sports, and other stakeholders involved in the project, the Director of Communication, Obinna Obiwulu explained that the school is partnering the government to drive sport education in the state.
He said the university which has campuses in parts of African countries and US intends to establish the headquarters of the sports education in Rivers.
He said the sports education will be for secondary school level from junior secondary one (JS1) to senior secondary one (SS1).
Also, he said there would be special training for university age students, while some may be sent abroad for further training and opportunities.
Obiwulu explained that “African School of Education has a division for athletics. The reason for today’s event is to speak about partnerships with the Rivers State government for that division.”
He said “Rivers State has extensive investment in sports and sporting facilities comparatively. On a visit here we saw the various stadia, as well as Real Madrid Sports Academy.
Obiwulu noted that the state government under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara is committed to sports development.
“We are partnering broadly to drive sports education, not only in the state, we are headquartering it here because we are a nationwide university. But this sports education component will be headquartered here, the objective is to drive sport education nationally,” Obiwulu added.
Also speaking with THISDAY during the meeting held at the office of the Port Harcourt Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Mr. Chris Green, Commissioner for Sports, said the sports education when built will attract more developments to the state.
Green said the university coming to Rivers to establish headquarters of the sport education, is an evidence that the state is safe for business and also fertile for any investor willing to come in for investment.
He said “this meeting coming from Chamber of Commerce, you can expect that this will attract more development to the state. It will improve the GDP of Rivers State to freedoms of US Dollars.
“It is good they are trying to get us have an arrangement with them. I think sports and education goes together, through sports you can develop the whole state, through education you can do that also.
“Again, Governor Siminialayi Fubara has created an enabling environment for business to thrive in Rivers State, sports will thrive in the state and everything we have here,” Green said.
