By Omonigho Okotie
The Director of Administration at Delta State Sports Commission, Onoriode Omojaja, made this known while speaking as a guest of Orientation Panorama on Voice of Delta Radio 97.9 FM on Wednesday, saying that the state sports commission has witnessed positive changes under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration.
He noted that the progress made in sports development has further repositioned the state to excel in all sporting events, be it football or track and field, while commending Governor Oborevwori for prioritizing sports, and his plans to upgrade Warri Stadium to a world-class facility.
Mr Onoriode recounted very many sports stars the state produced over the years, which he attributed to consistency in sporting programmes, equipment and training facilities upgrades coupled with the abundance of talents in the state, as can be seen from the many victories sports, making Delta the unbeatable champion in national competitions.
Speaking further, Mr. Onoriode enjoined the teeming youths in the state to take up sports, which according to him, has produced icons and successful individuals who have proven to be role models, adding that sports has a huge reward system.
Mrs Okonma Franca, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Delta State Sports Commission who also featured as a guest alongside Mr Onoriode, stated that the state sports commission is always making training facilities available to the youths who want to develop careers in sports; as a way of creating enabling environment for the discovery of talents in the state.
Speaking on the availability of sporting facilities, Mrs Okonma stated that Delta State is blessed with standard sports facilities like the Stephen Keshi stadium and Warri modern stadium, which she said if adequately utilized, the state is sure of producing athletes that would win more laurels at national and international sporting events.
Speaking on challenges of the state sports commission, Mr Onoriode disclosed that the commission shall build additional hostels to host athletes, acquire additional utility vehicles for easy movements as well as adequate remunerations to encourage athletes to put in their best while commending the state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, for the support so far given to the State Sports Commission.
He assured that the state will not only retain her enviable status as a national sports champion but will further reposition Delta State as the home of present and future champions.
Orientation Panorama is a weekly people’s program on Voice of Delta Radio 97.9 FM Asaba and Melody FM 88.6 FM Warri.
The public awareness radio program is an initiative of Delta State Orientation Bureau, DSOB, to propagate government policies, programmes and achievements in all sectors of the state economy, as well as to project the good governance strides of the state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.
This special edition of the program was anchored by OnAir Personality, Blessing Usiagbada and hosted by the State Director of Orientation at the Delta State Orientation Bureau, Comrade Mike Arinze.