The journey of the “Torch of Unity” for the 17th National Sports Festival topped over in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday as it was presented to the Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, with less than 20 days to its commencement.

The Sports Festival, which will hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State from June 26 to July 9, is expected to draw participants from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The torch was presented to the governor at the Ilorin Government House by officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC).

The recently-elected Ahmed, who personally received the torch, pledged sports promotion as part of his administration’s efforts at encouraging sports development in the state. According to the governor, the torch is a symbol of unity of the people of Nigeria as a nation. “Therefore, we must do everything humanly possible to sustain the unity through sports in the collective interest of all,” he remarked. Ahmed disclosed that the Kwara State Stadium Complex had been upgraded to FIFA standard and was equipped with modern facilities, noting that the facilister would host international sporting competitions in the near future.

The governor, however, urged the NSC and relevant stakeholders in sports administration to take advantage of the Kwara Stadium facility to host major sporting activities with a view to developing sports in the country. “I believe that we are capable of showcasing this facility to the world in efficient manner,” Ahmed said. He also charged the Kwara contingent to the sports festival to do the state proud by winning laurels. Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Sports, Alhaji Salihu Musa, had earlier thanked the sports commission for honouring the government and people of the North Central state with the unity torch. National Mirror gathered that about 130 athletes and 30 officials will represent Kwara at the festival