Gombe State Athletics Association (GSAA) has inducted the first set of
students into the Gombe State Athletics Academy for demonstrating excellence in athletics and academics.
The first set of students were the winners of the recently concluded first edition of Gombe State Inter-primary Schools Athletics Championship’s track events.
The inductees were presented with admission letters before their parents, teachers, games’ masters, and representatives of Gombe State Local Education Authority, State Universal Basic Education Board, Gombe State Sports’ Commission and State Ministry of Education.
Addressing a large crowd of supporters and spectators during the programme at the conference hall of Government Science Secondary School, Gombe, the chairman of Gombe State Athletics Association, Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, said the academy was established in fulfillment of the pledge he made to establish a platform to support and nurture the talents of the young athletes.
The first set of students, Gara said, “Will comprise 25 young athletes, the first three winners of the 100m, 200m, 300m and 4×100 m races. The academy will take some responsibility of the academicians’ welfare including nutrition, healthcare, training and academics as they are being groomed to develop their God-given potential. Parents are hereby urged to grant the needed cooperation to ensure these children grow to be champions.”
The Chairman then inaugurated a 13-man management board of the Academy headed by Prince Simon Ayuba as acting director and Haruna Isah Kalshingi acting registrar, urging the board to be committed in achieving the mandate of the Academy.
The Child Olympians were then presented with admission letters and consent forms signed by their parents or guardians.
One of the parents, Alh. Ahmed Nafada, the father of two academicians Rabi and Zainab that emerged overall best athlete at the championship, commended the Chairman of the Athletics Association, on behalf of parents, for exemplary leadership that made the Academy a reality.
“We know who Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe is,” remarked Mal. Ahmed Nafada, “and we are not surprised that he is sponsoring this project himself. This is a great development not only to us, but the state at large, and we parents will continue to support the children to achieve their dreams.”
The representatives of the State Universal Basic Education Board and Gombe State Sports’ Commission, Mal. Abdullahi Musa Dukku and Mrs. Zainab Ishaku, their remarks, noted that Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe has revived pupils’ interest in learning by reviving sporting activities, which have not been witnessed since the creation of Gombe State.
Goodwill messages from the other dignitaries and representatives were followed by distribution of training kits, 1 carton of indomie, sachet milk, beverage, sugar and eggs to each of the academicians.
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