Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Saturday, congratulated the two state teams that emerged Champions of the just-concluded Nestle Milo National Secondary Schools Basketball Championship in Lagos.
St. Jude’s Girls Model School, Amarata, Yenagoa won in the female category for a record seventh times while Bishop Dimieari Grammar School, Ovom-Yenagoa, became champions for the first time in the male category.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Governor Diri, described the lads as worthy sports ambassadors of the state.
According to the Governor, their victory was heart-warming and encouraging adding that it was in line with his administration’s renewed policy of promoting sporting excellence and building the capacity of youths of the state.
Diri stated that his administration has been encouraged with the outstanding performance of youths of the state in national sporting competitions in the last two years, citing a similar feat achieved by the state-sponsored football teams.
He recalled that Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens both won the 2021 AITEO/FA Cup and that Bayelsa Queens also recently became the National Women Football League Champions.
He said they will represent Nigeria in the CAF Women Champions League like its male counterpart did in the CAF Confederation Cup last year.
The governor assured that his government will continue to reward those making the state proud.
Governor Diri urged the youths to take advantage of the various empowerment schemes and the enabling environment created by his administration to develop and showcase their potentials.
“The victory of the St. Jude’s girls and the BDGS boys in the Milo basketball championship is very heart-warming, commendable and encouraging. I salute the courage and indomitable spirit of these lads.
“These worthy ambassadors of our dear state have again showed that they have imbibed the message of sporting excellence that our Prosperity Administration is encouraging and promoting. For making us proud, the government will continue to reward excellence.
“I therefore urge our youths to be motivated by these outstanding examples and tap into the different empowerment and capacity development schemes of the government. We are creating the right environment for our young ones to develop and showcase their potential and we are encouraged by the positive results we see.” He said.