The Bayelsa State Government says it is committed towards repositioning its Sports Academy at Asoama in the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state to a centre of academic excellence and sports development.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed this when the Chairman and members of the Governing Board of the Academy paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
In a statement issued at the weekend by his media aide , Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor said government had a clear idea of what to do about the Sports Academy to enable the institution achieve its set goals.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who urged the board, staff and students to keep hope alive, blamed the current state of affairs in the Academy on paucity of funds in the face of other pressing needs and state obligations.
He maintained that the Prosperity Administration was prepared to work with the board chairman and its members to improve the Academy and make it a reference point in sports and academics in the West African subregion.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo commended the the current Board for their zeal, commitment and efforts at moving the Academy forward in the midst of challenges, which he described as surmountable in the near future.
He therefore directed the Chairman to make necessary proposals to government in respect of the institution’s needs in the areas of infrastructure, academic curriculum development and legal reforms.
Earlier, the Chairman of the board of the Sports Academy, Elder Jackson Bidei, remarked that the board under him had carried out a comprehensive feasibility assessment and now in good stead to implement the blueprint of the Academy.
Elder Bidei, however, called on government to prioritize the development of the Academy by urgently tackling some of its basic needs, such as provision of critical training facilities and more manpower to reduce the burden of the existing few staff.
He also stressed the need for improved curriculum, monthly subvention and a clear delineation of supervisory and oversight functions between the Ministry of Sports and that of education over the Sports Academy to avoid confusion.
Signed
Mr Doubara Atasi
Senior Special Assistant on Media
Deputy Governor’s Office
Bayelsa State
2/04/22
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