The governor of Imo State, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodinma, has assured the Federation of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association of Nigeria, NBSA of his commitments towards the development of the sports in Imo State.
Uzodinma said this in Owerri, Saturday, during the association's Annual Week celebration which held with road walks, fanfare and friendlies at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
Speaking through his commissioner for Sports, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, Gov. Uzodinma recounted that Baseball was first introduced into Nigeria between 1960 and 1966 by the American Peace Corps but died when in 1966 a Civil War broke out in Nigeria and the Peace Corps were forced to exit the county.
"However, a group of Nigerians came together in 1989 to introduce the sports by forming a federation called the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association, NBSA which is the umbrella you are operating today.
"I want to thank in a special way, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our President and Commander in Chief for the enabling environment he has provided the NBSA to continue to operate in Nigeria. And I also want to thank the Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko for his motivations and encouragements towards Nigeria athletes in this sector, as well as congratulate your President, Mr. Uche Odozor and others working with him for taking this association to it's present level.
"For us as a government in Imo State, we shall continue to partner with you in the development of the sports so that through them, many youths would be pulled off the streets and more champions discovered", Uzodinma added.
The occasion ended with photo sessions and presentation of booths and canvasses (footwears) to some players in the Imo team who participated in the friendly match by the Honourable Commissioner For Sports, on behalf of the Imo state's governor.
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