By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
In a bid to improve sports development, the Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri has inaugurated the Coastal Fortress, a state-of-the-art table tennis facility in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The facility was built by Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade Stow, chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, to provide adequate preparation for tournaments.
The governor praised Stow, saying he had “written his name in gold” with the initiative. Diri emphasized that sports development is a key pillar of his administration’s “Assured” Prosperity programme, aimed at keeping youths away from crime and criminality.
The Coastal Fortress is expected to promote table tennis development in the state and provide opportunities for young athletes to excel. The event highlights the importance of investing in sports infrastructure to nurture talent and support youth development.
Governor Diri also announced the appointment of the South South representative of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, as Technical Adviser to the governor on sports, Table Tennis, describing him as a role model to the younger generation.
He said, “as you know, sports development is one of the key pillars of our assured development programme. Sports is one area we can use to remove our youths from crime and criminality”
“For me, it brings a very great pleasure to be here to see what this young man has done. I believe this facility will be so beneficial to the people of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.”
Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon Bukola Olapade, represented by the Special Advisers to DG on sports Mr. Ebidowei Oweifie, said the event was a testament of the governor’s unwavering passion for sports development.
Earlier in his address of welcome, Commissioner for Sports Development Dr. Daniel Igali, opined that the development of sports would not be complete without good facilities, pointing out that Mr. Stow’s gesture has lifted the soul of the government.
In a remark, chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Association, Mr. Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade Stow, reflected on his journey in table tennis, which began in 2018 when he served as Vice Chairman under former Director of Sports, Chief Patimidi Tukuru.
He explained that the Fortress is more than a personal venture but a contribution to the sporting future of Bayelsa State, and that the facility is designed to close the gap between the kids of the poor and the rich, stressing that every athlete would be treated with equal opportunity, regardless of background.
The NTTF South South rep noted that the facility is equipped with a range of modern amenities designed to support both training and comfort which includes, two restaurants, chairman’s office, reception, sports lounges, separate changing rooms for athletes and four conveniences.
In separate goodwill messages, Senator Benson Agadaga, the Senator representing Bayelsa East who doubles as chairman of the occasion and Chairman House Committee on Sports, Hon Tare Porri, appreciated the vision bearer Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade Stow for complimenting the government’s efforts, adding that the facility would keep young people in the state busy.
The highpoint of the event was the unveiling of the foreign coach, Luciano Esposito from Italy as well as Bayelsa State Table Tennis Team to the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Eunice Nnachi
euracci5@gmail.com
08182302664
