From right is Godwin Anyogo (TM), Hon. Sunny Udeh (former chairman), Hon. Agnes Atsu (Commissioner), Barr. Ugo Okoli (Chairman), Edet Cobham ,(Secretary)
The Cross River State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Agnes Atsu has charged members of Tinapa Sports Club, Calabar to creatively collaborate with her ministry and other stakeholders towards developing sports in Cross River State.
She made the charge when the leadership of the Club paid a courtesy visit to her office at the U.J Esuene Stadium on Tuesday December 19.
In her words, “my ministry is open to all windows of partnership with like-minded individuals and organizations towards the improvement of existing sports and the development of new ones. The Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Bassey Otu has given her marching orders to return Cross River State to her pride of place in Nigeria as far as sporting glory is concerned”.
She added that achieving the Governor’s directives is the major priority of her ministry.
Doing so, according to her, will be in total alignment with the People’s First mantra of Governor Otu and the prevailing Season of Sweetness in the State.
Atsu advised Tinapa Sports Club to nominate one of her members to serve on the Ministry’s strategic committee formed in furtherance of the realization of this overwhelming objective.
Earlier, the Chairman of Tinapa Sports Club Calabar, Barr. Ugochukwu Okoli had thanked the Commissioner for finding time in her crowded schedule to grant audience to the delegation.
He introduced the Club to the Honorable Commissioner as one of the oldest veterans sports club in the State as well as the oldest paying user of the stadium facilities for exercise and fitness purposes.
In addition, a former Chairman of of the Club, Hon. Sunny Udeh expressed the willingness and readiness of the Club to partner with the Ministry of Sports Development to ensure the realization of its mandate. He added that the Club has already drafted a strategy for grassroots sports development which shall be presented to the ministry at the next earliest opportunity.
In his vote of thanks, the Team Manager (TM) of the Club, Mr. Godwin Anyogo noted and commended the visible steps the Ministry under the leadership of the Honorable Commissioner have taken, including the renovation of the U.J Esuene Sports stadium which has been transformed from a seemingly abandoned monument to an edifice that the State is very proud of.
He prayed that her tenure as the Commissioner shall witness massive achievements that will return the State to her former sporting glory.
The Secretary of the Club, Mr. Edet Cobham was also in the delegation.
