The minister of state for education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, has flagged off the fourth edition of the Federal Education Sector Games (FEDUGAM) in Bauchi State for the workforce of all agencies under the ministry to enhance productivity.
Speaking at the flagged off ceremony in Bauchi on Tuesday, Sununu said the sports festival was to promote unity and synergy among the stakeholders within the national and sub-national.
He said the game is also instructive of the alliance between sports and education, which have immense value on the entire stratas of the society.
According to the minister, sports has become a source of economic empowerment to both young and old depending on the side of the table, “It builds bridges across various dividers, while it has evolved to building peace and resolving conflicts.”
Sununu who was represented by the Director, ICT, Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters, Alhaji Isa Abubakar, said the annual sports games was also to provide an avenue for participants to be active, remain physically fit and mentally alert for efficiency and higher productivity.
According to him, the game was to serve as a bounding force and not to create disharmony or disaffection among participating participants.
“In other words, fair-play is the key word. It is not a do-or-die encounter, as participation is considered more important than the urge to Win-at-all-cost,” he said.
He applauded Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State for hosting and supporting the funding of the six-day event.
On his part, Governor Bala Mohammed said that the event, which is an annual exercise where all agencies and departments under the ministry come together to participate in various games is about not to win medals but to bring unity and cooperation among the participating agencies and athletes.
“It is also aimed at improving the efficiency and productivity level of staff for the general growth of the service and of the country at large. It is a well known fact that engaging in sporting activities and exercise improves one’s physical and mental as well as productivity,” said the governor.
Earlier, the state commissioner for education, Dr Jamila Mohammed Dahiru, said that the door of the ministry would always be open for partnership with the federal government in anything that would enhance the productivity of staff and reform the education sector in the country.
Some of the games to be played by the participants in the sports fiesta includes; football, volleyball, table tennis, Chess, scrabble, march past, long jump, badminton, basketball and sprinting among others.
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