By Friday Idachaba
Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has described sports as a unifying factor and urged both public and private sectors and all Nigerians to be involved in sports.
Justice Ariwoola gave the charge at Kogi State High Complex on Wednesday in Lokoja during the unveiling of CJN’s trophy to kick-off of the annual National Sports Association for Judiciary (NASAJ) competition.
The Acting CJN who was represented by the Acting Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Majebi described the trophy as trophy of unity among judiciary staff across the country.
Ariwoola charged all the contestants to the 2022 edition of the CJN trophy NASAJ Games tournament to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship, be peaceful in their conduct and make new friends in the effort to promote national unity.
He urged the contesting states and their contingents to play the games by the rules in order to achieve the desired objectives of the tournament.
“This is the second time Kogi State judiciary is hosting the sports event within few years which shows the high regard the Kogi state government has for the competition.
“The essence of the games is to foster unity among the staff of judiciary and to also create room for stronger national unity in the country.
“We thank His Excellency the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who graciously approved the hosting of the tournament and created enabling environment for the games”, he stated.
In his remarks, President of NASAJ, Mr Emeka Ndilli stated that since the introduction of the games in 1994 it is only Kogi State that has hosted it twice and commended the state government for the effort.
The Kogi state Commissioner for sport and youth development, Mallam Idris Musa described sports as a symbol of unity.
He noted that sporting competitions among staff would no doubt, engender good interpersonal relationships in the judiciary and the state government at large.
The tournament later kicked off at the 25,000 seat-capacity Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, with athletes from Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa and Bayelsa States’ Judiciary competing in 18 sporting events. (Ends)