MINNA/Nigeria: In an exclusive interview with Newsmen, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar, the Head of Civil Service in Niger state, revealed that approximately ten thousand delegates from the Federal, State, and local government civil service are poised to engage in various sporting activities during the upcoming forty-second edition of the Federal Civil Services Games.
The highly anticipated event is scheduled to take place in Minna, Niger state, next month, spanning from the fourth to the fourteenth of December this year.
The announcement was made by Alhaji Salisu Abubakar shortly after the flag-off ceremony for the bi-monthly morning exercise for senior civil servants at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna, the state capital.
Reflecting on the state’s sporting legacy, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar lamented the decline of Niger state’s prominence in winning medals over the years. This decline prompted the state to vie for the opportunity to host the next civil service games—a bid that was graciously approved by the Head of Service of the Federation.
The decision to host the games aligns with the directives from Niger state Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, emphasizing the introduction and promotion of the bi-monthly exercise. This initiative aims to ensure the physical and mental fitness of senior cadre civil servants, enabling them to execute their duties seamlessly.
Alhaji Salisu Abubakar emphasized that beyond the health benefits associated with regular exercise, the state envisions significant socio-economic advantages from hosting the week-long event.
Encouraging civil servants with a penchant for various sporting disciplines to prepare earnestly, the Head of Service expressed the state’s determination to reclaim its position as a leader in medal-winning, commencing with the upcoming civil service games.
In an overview of the sporting events, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar listed the categories in which delegates will compete for medals. These include football, handball, athletics, squash, karate, judo, scrabble, boxing, badminton, tennis, chess, and basketball, among others. The diverse range of competitions underscores the inclusivity and competitive spirit that will characterize the forthcoming Federal Civil Services Games in Niger state.
