Benefits from sports quantifiable—Anwukah
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Gozie Anwukah, has stressed on the importance of sports which he said, “is good for everyone, young and old,” pointing out that the benefits derived from sports cannot be quantified.
Anwukah who made this known in Enugu,Tuesday while declaring open the 13th edition of the Federal Government Colleges as well as the Federal Science and Technical schools Games, FEDCOL, holding in Enugu tagged, ‘Enugu 2016,’ said that sports had become a part of the national life.
According to him, “sports does not only help in developing the physical, social and mental capabilities of individuals, but also promotes unity and understanding through social interaction during competitions.
“Such interactions provide an atmosphere of cultivating friendship and exchange of useful ideas that are beneficial to the participants and the community at large,” he said.
He said that it was because of the benefits derivable from sports that the WAEC commenced practical examination of Physical Education during the 2015/2016 academic session which NECO had commenced as far back as 2008.
He also explained that the Federal Government was aware of the merits of sports that they, the Ministry, in collaboration with the British Council, United Nations International Children’s Fund, UNICEF and other stakeholders developed a National Physical Education Schools Sports Policy and its implementation guidelines which is aimed at providing an organised systematic programme of physical education and sports knowledge activities and experiences for pupils and students in the nursery, basic and secondary schools to enable an enriched participation in sports at the higher education level.
Anwukah charged principals and teachers to encourage students to be actively involved in sports because it was fast becoming the way “to big achievement in the life of children and youths.”
