Revamp Nigeria's only Sports Academy, Nasarawa Assembly tells Governor Sule
By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports by Eche Amos
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Youth and Sports Development has called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to revamp Nigeria's only known multi-sports secondary school, the Akwanga Sports Academy.
This call was made during the Committee's statewide oversight tour of sports and youth facilities under the State's Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, last week.
The Chairman, Standing Committee on Youth and Sports Development and member representing Toto/Gadabuke Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, enumerated some of the things needing correction.
"The Sports Academy situated here in Akwanga Local Government Area is the only known sports institution in Nigeria that combines both academics with intensive athletic programmes, and has produced notable international sports athletes like Sunusi Ibrahim and Deborah Abiodun who play for Montreal Impact of Canada in the Major League Soccer, and University of Pittsburgh Women's Soccer Team respectively, in the United States of America.
"Unfortunately, the land allocation has been greatly encroached by the locals, major infrastructure vandalized or have decayed, the school suffers from inadequate teaching staff, while the classrooms and offices are an eyesore.
"The School lacks perimetre fence which should have helped in curtailing encroachment and vandalism. And from the information available to us, there are no learning materials, sports equipment, and the environment is not conducive for learning.
"This is a great facility in the Governor's Local Government Area, and we know what this could do for the pool of talents that abound in the State.
"Revamping the Sports Academy would greatly impact sports development in the State and country at large. The Academy, if revamped, would provide young athletes with access to world-class facilities and training while pursuing their education, enabling them to compete at the highest levels.
"It would also promote the development of sports infrastructure and contribute to the growth of sports in the State, and the country at large.
"For now, we are declaring a state-of-emergency on the Sports Academy, Akwanga.
"So, we are calling on the Governor to take an urgent and drastic measure on the facility to return it to its glorious days", Isimbabi said.
The Committee, which also had Hon. Hajara Danyaro, Hon. John Ovey, Hon. Larry Ven Bawa, Hon. Ali Jonah, Hon. Hudu Alhaji Hudu, and Director of Finance, Dennis Akabe, equally visited the Abacha Youth Centre to ascertain the progress of renovation work, Sports facilities at the old Presidential Lodge which include a swimming pool, Basketball Court and Tennis Court, and Lafia City Stadium, all in Lafia.
The committee then proceeded to inspect the Suleiman Jakonda Youth Centre, Akwanga where it directed handlers of the facility to report to the House Committee on Monday, 22nd September, 2025, unfailingly, to explain why the multi-million naira facility renovated by the Sule administration and mutually leased out should be left in such deplorable conditions.
In Keffi, the Committee visited the Keffi Township Stadium and Keffi Local Government Area Youth Centre, where it also recommended immediate Government's attention to improve sports and youth development in Nasarawa Western Zone.
While in Karu Local Government Area, the Committee visited the Karu Youth Centre and proposed site for the construction of a sports stadium.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, who took the visitation team round the facilities, commended them for always keeping Government in check for the growth and development of the State.
"Let me thank you most sincerely, on behalf of my principal, the Executive Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, and the entire Ministry's Staff as well as Aides to the Governor who are here with me, for ensuring the sustained implementation of your statutory responsibility.
"Governor Abdullahi Sule and this administration remain committed to building new infrastructure while upgrading existing ones as can be seen across the State.
"After this visit, I will adequately brief him and rest assured that he will oblige to your recommendations.
"We all want a Nasarawa State of our dream, and Governor Abdullahi Sule who is not afraid of breaking the banks, has already begun the journey to our dream State.
"We pray for the sustenance of such healthy working relationship between the executive and legislature in order to galvanize development in the State.
"We equally enjoin the good people of the State to continue to rally round the Governor and this administration so that we can enjoy more dividends of democracy", Kwanta pleaded.
The oversight visit was to assess the performance of the Ministry's third quarter budget for year 2025.
Highpoints of the oversight statewide tour included visitations to:
★ The Executive Chairmen of Akwanga Local Government Area, Hon. Safiyanu Isah Andaha
★ Hon. Idris Damagani of Keffi Local Government Area
★ Hon. Abubakar Aliyu Madaki of Karu Local Government Area (represented by the Secretary, Dr. Abraham Habu Ekpo and the Paramount Ruler of Karu –Esu Karu, His Royal Highness, Pharmacist Luka Panya Baba, at his Palace.
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