Chairman NUJ, CRS Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey welcoming guests and participants to the conference.
By Anietie Akpan
Thursday, May 8, was day six of the “2025 NUJ Media Week” climaxing with a conference on “Domesticating the National Sports Policy” on the theme : “Journalism, Good Governance and Quest for Sports Development: The Cross River State Perspective” at the Tent, Calabar Municipality.
It drew an array of government officials, the private sector with experts giving various perspectives on utilizing sports as business, creating employment and engaging youths, generating revenue and discovering budding talents from the grassroots, schools and communities as well as inclusivity on female and special athletes.
The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon.Peter Odey (Ph.D) who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Pastor Fred Abuo, declared the conference open with encomium on the leadership of the NUJ Cross River State Council, led by Comrade Archibong Bassey for the bold initiative deliberating on Sports Development during the 2025 Media Week.
He appreciated the NUJ for shaping public discourse, promoting transparency and holding those in power accountable.
According to the Deputy Governor, “Your dedication to truth telling is invaluable to our democracy. As you mark this occasion, I assure you of the Senator Prince Bassey Otu led Administration Commitment to Partnership and Collaboration with your union and for the good of our community. We value your role in nation building and will continue to work with you, promoting development, good governance and the welfare of our citizens”
Odey further urged journalists to promote responsible Journalism, avoiding the dissemination of unverified news that undermine public trust and stability.
A cross section of journalists at the conference.
The NUJ Chairman, on her part welcomed all participants and urged them to fully participate in the Conference while the Chairman of the Conference, Patriarch Victor Ebong, former APC Cross River State Secretary, represented by Bassey Edim highlighted the importance of developing sports to the society and the need to set up framework and implementing such especially in the discovery of young talents in the grassroots and schools as was obtainable several years ago.
Such move, he reiterated will bring good fortunes to the State and Nigeria at both National and International competitions while keeping the youths meaningfully engaged for peace and tranquility in the society.
There were four distinctive paper presentations, Covering different perspectives of the theme of the Conference.
The Vice Chairman/CEO State Planning Commission, Dr. Bong Duke, in his paper, “Institutional Framework and Governance for Sports Development In Cross River State”, highlighted the various components of the National Sports Policy and the need to align with local realities for a robust blueprint as sports development can only be attained through grassroots sports funding, Infrastructure maintenance and talent incubation as the domestication of the sports policy will also impact schools and Communities. Hence, the need for immediate adoption and localization, stakeholders collaboration, legislative backing and media advocacy.
Taking a look at the Institutional framework and governance structure observed fragmented administration, weak policy implementation, funding, over reliance on Government budget and grassroot disconnection of which he demands structural reforms with a proposal to include CRS sports development council to coordinate, regulatory and Implementation, grassroots talent development involving all 18 local Government Council and Private sector investment.
He opined that when this necessary framework is put together, the private sector can easily invest and it will be a win, win situation.
On his part, Chairman, Organized Private Sector and Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture ( CALCIMA), Mr David Etim who spoke on “Private Sector Participation In Sports Development: Opportunities & Challenges”, gave a brief history of private sector participation in sports including Stationary Stores FC of Lagos in 1958, and in the seventies IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Rangers International of Enugu, Bendel Insurance of Benin, Mighty Jets of Jos, Abiola Babes of Abeokuta and others that all contributed in talent discovery, representing Nigeria at different levels.
He opined that with the required framework to recoup investment with the domestication of the National Sports Policy, Principal investors look with a long view.
He affirmed that sports betting if properly regulated and localized is one area Investment is largely generated.
Another section of journalists at the conference.
The Vice chairman, NTTA , South South, Mr Amaebi Wilson, represented by the Vice Chairman, Cross River Table Tennis Association, Bishop Usen Umoh, in his paper, “Importance Of Grassroot Sports Development In Promoting Mass Participation And Talents Identification” emphasized that apart from ensuring the necessary legal and governance framework and policy document to attract private investors to sports development, intentional engagement and grassroot presence through sports associations with groups and community participation is key to identifying talents and sports development at the grassroots.
He said, “every Local Government Atea should have active Sports Groups tied to school, community leaders and traditional institutions. That is the only way to ensure that the policy is alive, not just in Abuja but here in Calabar Municipal, Calabar South, Ikom, Ogoja, Obudu, Akamkpa, Bakassi and so on.
“The media is the custodian of public attention, if you keep spotlighting elite athletes alone, the young hopeful in the local area may never get to limelight. Let’s challenge ourselves to cover local tournaments, showcase community coaches and tell the story of that single mother using sports to keep her son away from cultism”
“Partnership, Strategies, Necessity For Integrating National Sports Policy Into Crs Development” anchored by Public Issues Analyst and Chairman, Cricket Association, Cross River State, Dr Macfarlane Ejah, focused on under utilization of School Sports Programmes, Inadequate Sporting Infrastructure and the need for the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model void of personal sentiments by government officials and media awareness and sensitization to build capacity of sports broadcasters, agenda setting and media partnership.
“When there are sporting competitions, there is a sport vendor, persons doing refreshments, the athletes, officiating officials and the scouts, creating branding opportunities and Sports Tourism”, he said.
There were goodwill messages from various Stakeholders including the Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Agnes Atsu represented by the Permanent Secretary, Comrade Sam Egbala on moves to revamp sports in the State which was moribund in the past eight years.
She appealed that security be embedded in the domestication of the sports policy for peaceful sporting activities and protection of athletes.
Other goodwill messages of Commendation on the feat by the NUJ leadership came from the Special Adviser, General Duties to the Governor, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, the NLC Chairman, Cross River State Council, Comrade Gregory Olayi and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nsa Gill who sued for continuous unity among members to perform their mandate to government and the people.