The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state’s sports festival will serve as a unifying platform for Edo people across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state despite their cultural diversity and religious beliefs, The Punch report.
The governor said this while declaring open the third Edo Sports Festival in Benin City. The competition returns 19 years after the second edition was held.
The governor further disclosed a cash reward of N5m for the overall winners of the competition, while the second and third-place teams will get N3m and N1m respectively.
Governor Obaseki assured that the sports festival would be held annually and as a part of the official sports calendar of the state government.
He said, “I want to assure you that it will not take another 19 years before the next edition will hold. It will be held annually and we will synchronise it with the calendar of the Federal Ministry of Sports.
“The festival is more than competing for glory or to be one of Edo State contingent to the National Sports Festival. This festival is in celebration of the richness and vibrancy of our Edo pride and culture.”
Earlier, Chairman, Edo Sports Commission, Mr. Godwin Dudu-Orumen, said the event was put together to celebrate the best of cultures, sports and promote the spirit of competitiveness among the athletes.
He said the competition would afford the state the opportunity to test run the facilities built by the Obaseki led-administration ahead of the 2020 National Sports Festival in the state in March, as well as serve as platform to select athletes to represent the state during the NSF.
