By Wakawaka Sports
The Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Imo North Senatorial District, Hon. Basil Maduka, a businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, has pledged to revolutionizes sports development and youth empowerment in the zone if elected into the National Assembly.
Maduka stated this while speaking with Mbaise 2/47 on Global 101.9 FM about his vision for the people of Imo North, popularly known as Owerri Zone, ahead of the forthcoming National Assembly election.
He said sports would be a major component of his proposed constituency agenda, stressing that the zone possesses enormous sporting talent and a vibrant sports ecosystem that requires deliberate investment, structure and greater exposure.
According to him, his vision is to build a system where young talents can be identified from the grassroots, properly trained, exposed and connected to opportunities at national and international levels.
My vision is to use sports as an avenue to recreate the lives of our young people, discover their talents and create opportunities that will secure their future,” he said.
Maduka said he would seek to revolutionizes the sports ecosystem of Imo North by supporting grassroots clubs, academies, schools, coaches, athletes, referees, scouts, sports administrators, sports entrepreneurs and other professionals whose activities contribute to sports development.
He noted that the development of the zone’s sports ecosystem should go beyond football, stressing the need to identify and nurture talents in basketball, athletics, boxing, volleyball, table tennis and other sporting disciplines.
He said his proposed intervention would focus on grassroots talent identification, coaching and player development, sporting facilities, competitions, scholarships, sports entrepreneurship, scouting and creating pathways to professional opportunities.
The Labour Party candidate also said he would promote stronger partnerships between grassroots teams, schools, academies, professional clubs, sponsors, scouts and other stakeholders to ensure that talented young people do not remain undiscovered.
According to him, a properly structured sports ecosystem can create not only athletes but also employment opportunities for coaches, referees, sports administrators, journalists, analysts, photographers, fitness professionals and sports entrepreneurs.
Maduka noted that Imo North has produced outstanding sports personalities who have represented the state and Nigeria, adding that their achievements demonstrate the enormous potential within the zone.
Owerri Zone is a catchment area for sports in Imo State. We have the talents and the ecosystem, but what is needed is the right structure, exposure and investment to take these talents to the next level,” he added.
He further explained that his experience as a businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist had strengthened his commitment to initiatives that directly improve the lives of young people and ordinary families.
Maduka said that if elected, he would work towards creating opportunities where young people can transform their talents into sustainable careers and livelihoods, rather than allowing sporting potential to go to waste.
He therefore described his proposed sports revolution as part of a broader vision for youth empowerment, human capital development and economic opportunity in Imo North.
