The Southeast Zone, Zonal Coordinator National Sports Commission, NSC, Chief Ben Ezema has expressed his readiness and determination in upgrading the state of sports and its activities in the zone, reiterating that sports remains a veritable tool for national unity, enhancing physical and mental health as well as driving social development.
Chief Ezema who highlighted the significance of discovering, nurturing and harnessing potentials, reaffirmed the urgent need for deliberate and thorough planning, collaboration between all the respective stakeholders and states as well as their commitments.
In his address during the inaugural edition of NSC Southeast Zonal sports representatives meeting at its zonal headquarters in Enugu, yesterday, the Southeast Zonal Coordinator, Chief Benard Ezema, cited lack of organized and structured systems, maladministration, negligence and lack of funds as factors affecting the development and expansion of sports in the region.
The Zonal Coordinator further drew the attention of the reps on the importance of facilities, equipment and constant training of the coaches rather than using the so called “coachitos”in officiating games, as the athletes and their respective states intensifies preparations for the forthcoming Coalcity sports festival, youth games, intermediate games, para games and some.other major national competitions.
Mr. Ezema noted that over reliance and dependence on government financial support cannot be sufficient to fund sporting programs, while calling for exploring various practical solutions, through collective responsibilities , partnership among the sports representatives to start with in expansion of grassroots sports development in the region.
All the reps, presented their scorecard for the first quarter of 2026, a process which the zonal coordinator said is going to be a continuous exercise to evaluate and appraise their activities in the development of grassroots sports development.
The Zonal reps who presented reports on what they have done since January 2026 to date are, Mrs Pascaline Edoziem (Shooting Federation); Agomuo Calistus (Wushu (Kungf,u); Dr Uche Chukwu Okechukwu ( Squash); Chief Emmanuel Asogwa (Handball); Ekene Joseph (para swimming); Hon . Bonny Akunna (Table Tennis); Mr Nwosu Kingsley (Volleyball), Bar. Emmanuel Egenamba (Traditional Sport), Herbert Ugwu (Deaf Sports,); Prof. Ngozi Ani (Rowing Canoe and Sailing) and Hon Chuks Ugwuoke (Golf Federation) were all present in the meeting,.
Others who were unavailable due to different engagements but took permission to be absent from the meeting include Oby Edoga (Badminton); Odobeatu Joseph (OJZ) (swimming); Ugo Udezue (Basketball); Vitalis Onukwugha (Darts); Chief Jonathan Nnaji (Taekwondo); Kingsley Uduh (Tennis); Engr. Ogbokiri (Scrabble) , Mr Chika (Cricket) and Ndu Obinna (Karate) will present their scorecard during the next meeting.
The reps. expressed dismay and questioned the rational behind dropping some sports events from the sports festival, while lamenting over the decades of negligence and degradation, lack of constant and regular inter-zonal competition, irregular capacity building programs for coaches and officials.
The house unanimously approved the incorporation and collaboration of the State Directors of Sports in all the programs and activities they will be organizing in region, while recognizing them as chief custodians of their state contingents.
The meeting, which was the first of its kind since the inception of the Commission, brought together southeast representatives of the various sports federation, as they brainstormed, deliberated and resolved on the best global practical practices on how to develop sports in the region.
They thanked the zonal coordinator and requested such to be a continuous exercise in the zone.
