By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, Dr Francisca Nwafulugo, Saturday, described sports as a tool for promotion of social cohesion, friendship, economic empowerment and national unity.
Nwafulugo, who stated this at kicked off the 2023 Rectors Unity Cup Competition, urged the federal, states, local governments and communities to invest more on sports as it was capable of uniting and assisting in moving the country to enviable height very fast.
"The Federal Government has done a lot for Nigerians and are still on it but you know people want more. I want to say they should keep it up. We want good things in the country. We want a country that is friendly where everybody will have a place and say.
"Sports is an outdoor activity that brings the spirit, soul and mind together. I think sports is the best thing for us now. Sports bring people together in unity. We need to be together to achieve more things," she said.
She said this was why he had never neglected sports since inception of her administration, adding that the Rector's Unity Cup would feature Football, Volleyball, Athletics, 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m, 4 by 100m, Badminton, Table Tennis all in male and female categories.
She thanked the management, staff and students of Federal Polytechnic Oko Community for their consistency in the staging of sports competition and their cooperation with her administration.
"I want to thank God for this sporting event that marks the first activity towards my end of tenure which is just one out of several other events. It is an honor today as I kick off this Rector's Unity cup and I sincerely appreciate it, thank you for making me proud.
"From now till Nov. 9, we shall have exciting moments of sports and prizes to be won. Sports had never been neglected since the inception of my tenure, we went to Nigeria Polytechnic Games and Staff Games, we funded them and came back with many trophies.
"We never missed any of those sports competitions despite the fact we are facing financial challenges,' said Nwafulugo. It has been a good journey of success and challenges, five years is just like yesterday but we have recorded many achievements thanks to the hard working team that made it happen," she said.
Nwafulugo was joined at the kick off by other señor staff of the polytechnic including Mr Uche Onyegbu, Deputy Rector, Mr Obini Onuchukwu, Ag Registrar, Dr. Nwabu Ezemba, Chief Librarian and Dr. Ferguson Ezeokafor, Director Academic Planning, Mr. Kehinde Ogubunmi, Director of Sports, Mr Chijioke Ibeziako, Public Relations Officer, among others.