EKO 2012:Federal Government Is Ever Ready For Sports Development.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has officially signaled the commencement of the 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012 Games after hoisting the Games flag over the weekend at the Teslim Balogun Stadium,Surulere.

The President,who was represented by the Vice -President Namadi Sambo,said the hoisting ceremony by the chief executives of participating States and Ministers of Federal Capital Territory was one of the initiatives of the National Festival to create awareness and mobilize support for the Games.

 "That ceremony signifiy the official commencement of the National Sports Festival.Flag hoisting ceremony by chief Executive of the participating states and Minister of the FCT is one of the initiatives of the National Sports Festival with the Director General describing its history as it is designed specifically to create awareness and mobilise support for the National Sports Festival and also stimulate Governors to be personally involvd in the activities of the National Sports Festival and also give it its desire attention."

Sambo,who also performed the first flag hoisting in Port Harcourt during the 17th National Sports Festival tagged 2011 Garden city,said the ceremony would stimulate Governors to be personally involved in the activities of Eko 2012 and to also the game its due attention.

 "On Tuesday, June 15th, 2011, i performed the first flag hoisting in PortHarcourt as part of activities for the 17th National Sports Festival tagged the Garden City Games."

In line with the tradition, we started in 2012.Am here to hoist the flag as a mark of support of the Federal Government for the Games.Am happy today that as it was in 2011 all the states and Federal Capital Territory are here to hoist there respective flags.

This is an affirmation that National Sports Festival is meeting its cardinal objectives of unifying the nation irrespective of our pride, religion and political affiliation."

 "Noting the core value of sports in nay nation, the Federal Governmen is more than ever before committed to the transformation of the sports sector in Nigeria to satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians"

 He said the event was on affirmation that the Games is meeting its cardinal objectives of unifying the nation irrespective of pride,religion or political affliation,adding that the recently concluded Presidential retreat on sports was part of their commitment to sports.

While noting the core values of sports in Nigeria,the Vice President said the Federal Government wass more than ever before commited to the transformation of the nation's Sports sector to satisfy the yarnings and aspirations of Nigerians.