Anambra Government Begins Statewide Data Capture for Sports Practitioners

By Ikemefuna Asika

The Anambra State Government has commenced a statewide data-capturing exercise for practitioners in the sports sector, including coaches, instructors, sports officers and administrators.

The exercise, which commenced simultaneously across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, is expected to run for two days before moving to Awka, the state capital, where the exercise will continue at the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development.

Monitoring the exercise at various registration centres across the three senatorial districts, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Patrick-Agha Mba, expressed satisfaction with the turnout of sports practitioners.

Mba said the exercise was designed to establish a comprehensive database of sports administrators, coaches and instructors operating across the state.

According to him, the initiative is part of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s efforts to build an enabling sports ecosystem at the grassroots and reposition sports beyond recreation as a tool for youth empowerment, job creation, talent discovery and social cohesion.

“We want to know the people who are actively involved in sports development across our communities and create a structured system through which they can be supported and developed,” Mba said.

The commissioner urged sports practitioners who have not yet registered to take advantage of the registration window, noting that the database would facilitate access to upcoming training and certification programmes.

He said the planned training would help improve the professional capacity of practitioners and strengthen sports development across the state.

A grassroots football coach based in Isuofia, Nwankwo Vincent, who participated in the exercise, commended the state government for the initiative.

Vincent described the registration process as seamless and said a comprehensive database would promote better coordination and development of sports at the grassroots.

“I am happy that the government is now aware that coaches exist in our various localities,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the proposed training and certification programmes would further improve the knowledge and competence of coaches across the state.

Similarly, Lucy Owon, a gym instructor who registered in Awka South Local Government Area, described the initiative as a welcome development and urged genuine sports practitioners across the state to participate.

Owon said practitioners had long looked forward to greater organisation and coordination within the sports sector.

“We have looked forward to this kind of organisation within the sports sector. Having a proper database will help the government understand who is involved and how best to support practitioners,” she said.

The state government is expected to continue the registration exercise at the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development in Awka after the initial two-day exercise across the local government areas.

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