We want to revive badminton, make Niger hub of players – Commissioner
Niger state Commissioner for Finance and a veteran player of Badminton game in the state, Lawal Adamu Maikano, has said that the first edition of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago inter local government badminton championship is a step towards reviving the game in the state.
Maikano who stated this on Friday during an interview with sports Journalists at the Minna sports club complex, added that they want to make Niger state a hub of badminton players in Nigeria.
He observed that sports generally has gone down not only in Niger state but Nigeria as a whole, adding that the badminton championship was a step towards reviving and bring back the lost glory of the game in the state.
The Commissioner who also featured for Kontagora local government in the veterans category of the championship, said after the current tournament they will go to the grassroots to organize something similar to catch them young from age five to 15.
He added that one of the direction of the present administration in the state u see the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago is to ensure that youths were actively engage in positive activities, sports inclusive, saying the badminton championship was one of such direction.
Hon. Maikano disclosed that they want to see Niger state produce the best of badminton players within the shortest possible time, and that with competitions like this it is possible.
He said the championship was made possible with some personal efforts from some of them, but most importantly the government who provided the enabling environment.
“We invited the Governor here and when he came around and saw some players he said we need to support this players to come to limelight. This is the kind of leader we have currently,” said the Commissioner.
He assured that the Governor was willing to support people with talents for them to develop it to the best of their abilities, adding that such kind of championship will continue to be organized through individual efforts and government support.
The Commissioner also commended the leadership of the state badminton association under the chairmanship of Hon. Mohammed Nma kolo for given them the badminton court edifice which is the first of its kind in the state.
So far, Suleja local government has won both the male and female active players doubles categories of the championship. Similarly, the finals of the single female category is between Angela Haruna and Dorcas David, all of Suleja, while the male single category final os between Aliyu Shehu of Suleja and Aliyu Saidu of Kontagora.
