Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has been presented with the Torch of Unity for the forthcoming 2025 National Sports Festival by the delegation from the National Sports Commission.
The National Sports fiesta is expected to hold from May 16 to May 30 in Ogun State.
Gov. Alia pledged total support to the state's athletes to win laurels for the state.
Receiving the torch on behalf of the governor, his deputy, Barr. Sam Ode described the visit as a mark of unity that will unite all sports lovers across the country to foster national unity.
He said Gov Alia Ode is a sports enthusiast whose innovation in the sports sector has attracted infrastructural development of the sector.
Ode described sports as industry in the state and urged investors to come to the state and invest in sporting activities.
He said, “I want to let you know that no preceding governor of Benue State has supported the development of sports as governor Alia has done by investing huge resources into the sector, especially football.
“We want to call on investors to come and invest in sporting activities of the state because sports is an industry, so we are looking at it beyond recreational or social activities but as a business and we are going to diversify to other sporting activities like Volleyball, Handball Table Tennis among others to haunt talents that will represent the State.”;
He expressed optimism that the McCarthy Stadium, Makurdi will be ready for the club to play their home matches.
He commended the resilience of officials of the state-owned football club, Lobi Stars for their doggedness in the face of the daunting challenges of playing outside their home.
