It was a gathering and celebration of who is who in Sports industry in Nigeria, of which the Sports loving and promoting Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang can never be missing or found wanting in this gathering of creame de la creame of real stakeholders as the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria celebrates her 60th anniversary, with the theme: “The Power Of Sports Media: Honouring Its Legacy And Shaping The Future.”
In a true and thorough recognition of his unwavering and sustained support to Sports development on the Plateau, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang was conferred with the esteemed award of SWAN Nigeria Order Of Sports(SNOS) for outstanding support for Sports Writers Association of Nigeria(SWAN) and his contribution to Sports development in Nigeria.
Still basking in the great euphoria of a well deserved honour bestowed on Barrister Caleb Mutfwang by the fourth estate of the realm, Sammy Sports International Limited, owners of SSI Media and SSI Leagues, highlights some of the great strides of the sports and Youths loving Governor in just two years of his administration.
In early 2023, during one of his gubernatorial campaigns, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, then, emphasized the need to revolutionize Sports through robust policies that will change the face of sports in Plateau state.
Upon winning the election and immediately after his swearing-in, Governor Mutfwang, with the mantra, “The Time is Now” and “The land is green”, seeks to bring back the glory days in sports. His Excellency plans to revitalize sports and give Plateau a good name through carefully laid down sports policies. He went further to buttress this assertion in his inaugural speech; “we will make Plateau state a major sports destination and sports tourist Centre taking advantage of our clement weather. We will mobilize the local Governments to build and develop new talents among our Youths, by the grace of God, we shall explore various options for the completion of Zaria Road Olympic Stadium”.
With the appointments of key officers in the administration in place, a new Director of Sports emerged. The appointment of Professor Ezra A. Gunen, a Professor of Exercise and Sports Science, and also a level 1 Athletics Instructor, as the DOS, was a welcome development and a move in the right direction.
The unprecedented appointment of a Professor from the Academia with a wealth of sports knowledge and experience to pilot sports on the Plateau, set the stage for a new era in sports administration.
The new Sports regime focuses on amateur sports development through grassroots sports programmes, discovery and training of sports talents, exposing athletes to Local and National competitions, motivations through improved welfare to athletes and officials, capacity building of Sports Administrators and Coaches, approving study leave to officers and athletes who want to further their education, stronger collaboration with sports stakeholders, like the Sports Association Board members, Cooperate bodies, the media and above all, a conceived measures to refurbish the Rwang Pam Stadium and complete the Zaria Road International stadium.
Interestingly, and to keep true to his words, Governor Mutfwang has shown great commitment to sports by approving funds for the execution of many sports programmes and competitions of local, national and international status. With this, the era of self-sponsorship to competitions by athletes and officials is jettisoned; The Governor has equally engaged the services of a consortium with a view to upgrade facilities at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium and to complete the Zaria Road Stadium. Presently, work is ongoing at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium with a view to upgrade it to Category 2 FIFA standard.
His Excellency’s approvals had afforded many Sports Associations within the period under review, to participate in national leagues and championships. Most of these sports have, for years, been unable to attend a single competition. Again, a few others like Hockey and Handball, both females, had the privilege of participating in international competitions in Ghana and Morocco, respectively. This has further exposed our athletes to the international sporting environment.
The state also took part in all the editions of National Para-Games, the National Youth Games and the National Sports Festival in 2023, 2024 and 2025, of which not less than sixteen athletes from Plateau state in the youth category have been discovered and shortlisted for various National Call-ups.
To this end, arrangements for State awards is in the pipe line to appreciate and motivate them. This is in line with keeping the promises made by the government.
In all of these, athletes and officials have continued to enjoy full government support in terms of competition allowances and logistics, a far departure from past experiences of past administrations where, up till today, officials are owed competition allowances.
Athletes on contact appointments will soon benefit from an improved package that will reflect the minimum wage.
Between May 29, 2023 to date, the state has won a total of 324 medals in all competitions, comprising 97 Gold, 91 Silver, and 136 Bronze, which is quite remarkable. The state has recorded many individual awards for outstanding performance by athletes in various competitions.
Governor Mutfwang in his magnanimity, decided to rescue the State Sports Council from an embarrassing absence of shuttle bus that has plagued the Council for thirty years since the last bus was bought and has long been grounded, by graciously donating an 18 seater hummer Bus to alleviate transport constraints faced be athletes and officials.
About five Coaches have been sponsored for graded Coaching license seminars and workshops. This is apart from the improvement in talent discovery due to improved Government commitment to sports.
In the thick of all this success story, lies the unwavering and selfless contributions of Sports Association Board members, the media, Organisations and spirited individuals, who shared the same vision and aspiration with the government to transform Sports. They have relentlessly remained committed by organizing and sponsoring events and programmes that has added value to Sports development.
As Barrister Caleb Mutfwang’s adminìstrative drive for sports growth and its sustainability, and as the sports policies and programmes are fully implemented, the future of sports looks brighter than ever and Plateau is poised to take back its rightful place in the committee of sports federations.
It therefore, behooves all stakeholders in sports to join hands with the Government of Plateau state, the state Ministry for Youth and Sports Development and the Plateau state sports Council to actualize this vision.
A big Credit also goes to the Plateau State Sports Council Public Relation Officer, ALFRED GONYOK.
