The immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State and the Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has called on the international oil companies in the Niger Delta and other corporate bodies to support sports development in Bayelsa.

Dickson spoke during the final of the Ofuruma Pepe Cup sponsored by his foundation, the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation, at the Sagbama headquarters of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

He stressed that it was indeed critical for the IOCs and the corporate bodies to take deliberate steps to support Sports development as it cannot be left in the hands of the state government alone.

Dickson who called on all to join hands in sports development said Bayelsa was a state of champions which was number one in wrestling in Nigeria and Africa.

The just-concluded community-based grassroots football competition, which involved 100 teams and 1000 young boys were designed to enable the HSD Foundation to talent spot young footballers.

Senator Dickson said, “We will not be getting it right if we leave sports development for the state government alone. I hereby use the opportunity to call on well-meaning members of Bayelsa State as well as corporate citizens to help in picking one area of sports development to help the State government.”

Senator Dickson said that the Ofurumapepe Cup tournament, one of the initiatives of his foundation, was launched before he left office.

The former Governor said he was passionate about Sports Development, Education and the promotion of the Ijaw Culture as part of his modest contributions to societal development.

Dickson thanked the state Governor, Senator Douye Diri, the Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Moses Cleopas, political office holders, traditional rulers and other dignitaries for attending the occasion.

The Senator also recalled that a few weeks ago, his Foundation also unveiled the Nanaye Dickson Wrestling Classics, noting that Bayelsa State had more wrestling champions than most countries put together.

He said the Seriake Dickson Foundation was supporting the Bayelsa Government to talent spot young Bayelsan Wrestlers who will take over from the current wrestling Champions.

He added that the HSD Foundation would declare open the Nanaye Dickson Wrestling Tournament on the 30th of December, 2021.

“These tournaments are to give our youths the opportunity to engage themselves meaningfully. Naturally, we are very concerned about the alarming rate of cultism and drug abuse, among our youths, and it is the plan of the Foundation to work hard to ensure that the youths are better than our own generation. The main aim is to enable the youths to engage themselves meaningfully.” He added.

The former Governor also announced his intention to launch a football club in the next couple of weeks or months to be known as the Ofurumapepe Club.

Also speaking, the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, thanked Senator Dickson for sponsoring such a competition at this economically trying period to engage the youths, particularly during the Yuletide. He congratulated Senator Dickson for the thoughtfulness in engaging young boys.

He said there had been no such competition in the state-sponsored by any member of Parliament at the national level. He said Dickson was the first to do it and hoped that Senator Cleopas who was watching would do the same for the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District.

The final match of the game was played in Sagbama on Thursday, between the Torugbene 2 FC of Ekeremor LGA and Odoni FC of Sagbama LGA which the latter won with a lone goal.