By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Cross River State Commissioner for Sports Development, Mrs. Agnes Atsu has expressed her commitment to partner with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) in terms of improving sports development in the state.
Mrs. Atsu gave the assurance on Tuesday when the sports writers paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Calabar.
The commissioner, who noted that partnership with SWAN was important to her, said her interest was in sports development in the state.
She said as a ministry, they did not know it all, so, any group that had an idea of things to be done to help develop sports in the state was welcome and they would work with them.
“SWAN will be part and parcel of all my programmes, I need you to tell the world what we are doing.
“We are about setting up some committees in the ministry to help drive our agenda and I need SWAN to give us one person that will work with us.
“I don’t know how the relationship of the past sports commissioners and commission was with SWAN but for me, I believe we should be partners in progress and should help each other to be better for the overall good of the state,” she maintained.
While thanking Gov. Bassey Otu and his wife for giving her the opportunity to shine through her service, the commissioner said she felt like a champion to be the first female commissioner for sports in the state.
Earlier, Chairman of SWAN in Cross River, Mr. Mike Abang, told the commissioner that the association was not in the state to confront anyone but to partner and support the ministry for the development of sports in the state.
Abang said in the past, the relationship of the sports commission in the state with SWAN was not cordial, adding that SWAN was not carried along in the activities of the commission and many things were hidden.
“In the last National Sports Festival, we were told that our state government was not interested and does not support sports development.
“The present governor met with us before he was elected and promised to implement the National Sports Policy.
“We appeal that this is done because this will not only enhance sports development in the state but boost the state’s image,” he said.
He therefore appealed to the commissioner to ensure that SWAN is carried along whenever there are sports activities involving the state.
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