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By Vitalis Aondona Lanshima
Sports in Benue State has been in comatose for over two decades, and successive administrations have failed to invest in sports development and sports infrastructure. The last time any meaningful investment in sports was done was in 1995, prior to the 1996 National Sports Festival in Makurdi. The Aper Aku Stadium was built to rival any other stadium in the country. At that time, it was a sports ediface that signified the arrival of Benue State on the sporting scene. It was a facility that hosted all the sporting activities during the festival, including swimming.
Benue ’96 also created an avenue for youth development in Benue State. The state recruited hundreds of athletes across the state to participate in the National Sports Festival. The athletes were employed and camped by the state for several months in preparation for the games. It was a sight to see – watching Benue State athletes in their well designed track suits.
Today, sports in Benue State leaves much to be desired. Benue State athletes are often missing at major championships, including the National Sports Festival. In 2018, Team Benue was completely absent in Abuja during the National Sports Festival. During Edo 2020, less than six athletes adored Benue colors. This was after the state competed in team sports zonals and qualified in several team events. This ineptitude and lack of seriousness has forced many vibrant Benue youths to compete for other states, winning laurels and bringing pride to their adopted states.
Sports infrastructure in Benue State is in a sorry state. Besides the Aper Aku Stadium, which is currently a shadow of its self, Benue State cannot boast of any other state-of-the-arts athletic facility. Gboko, which the the second largest city after Makurdi can only boast of something that can be best referred to as a playground. Sports is often an avenue that “helps to improve fundamental social and interpersonal skills, which aids in crime reduction and building national unity.” With crime and drug addiction on the rise, it has become critically important for Benue State to invest in sports facilities.
Youths in Benue State have long been left to drown. Successive administrations have outrightly ignored investment in the Benue Youth. However, we all know that youths can play a significant role in driving the economic growth of a state which will lead to sustainable development. The time has come for the talents of Benue Youths to be honed.
To foster growth and development in Benue State, it is important that the next administration make youth development a critic factor in its policy. By investing in youth development and entrepreneurship the state will stimulate the Benue Youth to unleash their creativity which will lead to job creation, wealth development, and enhance their standard of living. Benue Youth have the potential to drive change in Benue and Nigeria economies through innovation, agriculture, and creation of new markets. This can be achieved through capacity building, mentorship, and training.
I envision a Benue State where our youth are elevated to the forefront of economy development. This can be accomplished through the establishment of the Benue State Youth Innovation Funds. The fund will be used to support creativity and innovation of youths in the state. Such a program has the potential to stimulate innovation, unleash creativity, and contribute to economic growth of the state.
Lanshima, MA, MBA, is USA-based sports administrator and educator. He is a Paralympic World Record Holder, and a former Councilor in Louisville, Kentucky, USA
