By Chidimma Ajemba
The Anambra State Ministry of Youth Development and Sports will commence statewide data capturing, registration, retraining and certification of sports instructors, officers and administrators across the state.
Commissioner Patrick Aghamba disclosed this during a press conference in Awka on September 24, saying that competent, trained and certified manpower was essential to building a thriving grassroots sports ecosystem.
Aghamba said that the exercise would sanitise, structure and strengthen sports development, following findings that some personnel operated without formal registration or standard knowledge of modern sports fundamentals.
He said that the exercise would address identified gaps in sports safety, first aid, talent management and sports ethics, while improving the quality of sports administration and coaching across the state.
According to him, registration would commence on September 28, with forms available at the Ministry of Education, ASUBEB, PPSSC, sports associations, state-owned stadia and designated ministry desk officers.
The Commissioner explained that registered personnel would undergo mandatory retraining covering general sports fundamentals, administration, coaching principles, safety, anti-doping and safeguarding, alongside specialised technical sessions.
Aghamba said that the retraining would take place across the three senatorial zones, with Anambra Central in Awka, Anambra North in Onitsha and Anambra South in Aguata.
He called on sports instructors in schools, private academies, fitness centres, community clubs and local governments to register, stressing that certification would become mandatory for training young people.
“The safety and future of our young people are paramount,” Aghamba said, adding that only certified personnel would train young people in public institutions and sports facilities.
Chidimma Ajemba is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
