Sports is a powerful tool for character formation - Mrs Soludo

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By Madu Obi

The wife of the governor of Anambra State, Dr Nonye Soludo, has described sports as a powerful tool for character formation and social inclusion among youths.

Flagging off the 2nd edition of Nonye Soludo Volleyball championship in Awka, the governor's wife said she instituted the tournament as part of her efforts to positively engage young people, discover their talents and encourage discipline and unity among them.

She said: “The competition will serve as a platform for nurturing future volleyball stars. I encourage our youths to take the tournament seriously because sports remains a powerful tool for character building and social inclusion.

The first edition was not as big as this one and the fact that more local government areas are participating this year shows that volleyball tournament is gaining more acceptance in our state.

For this reason, we will increase the prize money so as to encourage our girls to take more interest in the sport."

She commended the organisers, coaches and participating teams for their commitment to the success of the championship and urged the athletes to exhibit sportsmanship and fair play throughout the competition.

Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Mr Patrick Onyedum, described the championship as a laudable initiative that aligned with the state government’s drive to empower youths through sports.

He expressed optimism that the competition would further strengthen the development of volleyball in the state and beyond.

The championship is featuring teams from the 21 local government areas of the state.