Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi has ordered the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the state, Mr. Charles Akpuenike, to go all out to both primary and secondary schools to harvest hidden talents and put the state on high sport pedestal.

Governor Umahi gave the order when Abakaliki, Ebonyi Urban Divine Mandate Sport Organisation visited him in his office.

The group used the opportunity to invite the governor to the forthcoming Akubaraoha Sports Festival scheduled for this month.

It also presented him and the state’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, with jerseys for the sports festival.

While thanking Akpuenike for his innovative and proactiveness, Governor Umahi said his government would do everything possible to step up sporting activities in the state.

He said that his government had not contributed a kobo to the current efforts initiated by the commissioner for sport, Mr. Akpuenike.

Earlier, the commissioner for youth and sports had explained that they were at Government House to invite governor Umahi to the opening ceremony of the sport festival which begins on September 17.

He said that the festival was being sponsored by individuals, who appreciate what the governor is doing in the state, and urged others not to always look for what they can get from the government purse but to be creative.

The activities lined up for the festival are football, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, table tennis and dancing competitions.

•Photo showsGovernor Umahi (third left), receiving a jersey from Sports Commissioner Charles Akpuenike at the Government House in Abakaliki. With them are the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe (second left), and the Head of Service, Chamberlain Nwele.