The Federal Government, through the
National Lottery Trust Fund, has donated  sports equipment to 41 public
primary schools in Bayelsa State.

The Federal Government said the
distribution was an interventionist programme to promote grassroots
sports development and improve the country’s future performances in
competitions.

The schools got   athletics, volleyball,
basketball, football, handball, badminton, table tennis, judo and
taekwondo  equipment at a ceremony  in Yenagoa  on Friday.

Permanent Secretary, Special Duties,
Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Phylis
Nwokedi represented the Secretary to Government of the Federation,
Babachir Lawal, on the occasion.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive
Officer, NLTF, Habu Gumel; NLTF’s Zonal Coordinator, South-South, Alhaji
Adamu Rabiu; traditional rulers and representatives of the state
government were also present at the event.

Executive Secretary, State Universal
Basic Education Board, Walton Liverpool, described the gesture as the
first in the history of basic education in the state.

He said the schools would  use the
equipment to achieve the objectives of the programme. He, however,
appealed to the Federal Government to do more to the schools.