The Gombe State Government has promised to declare a one week break for schools in the state to participate in the 2026 edition of Gombe Inter-secondary Schools Athletics and Principals’ Cup Football Competition.
Gombe State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aisha Umar Maigari, who gave the hint in a chat with journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing Gombe State Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics Championship, however, explained that the approval would only be possible if the competition do not clash with the schools academic calendar.
Dr. Aisha assured that the Gombe State Government would continue to support the grassroots sports and other programmes aimed at developing talents in the state.
“The State Government is in support of the Gombe State Inter-secondary Schools Athletics Championship and the Principals Cup Football Competition, and that is why His Excellency has approved a one week break for schools to participate in the competitions, and this is in tandem with the Federal Government policy.
“We are ready to approve a week break for next year’s edition if it doesn’t clash with our schools calendar, we will do it in a way that it doesn’t affect the school calendar, and we are able to deliver our curriculum for our students will study and prepare for their exams.”
Meanwhile, organisers of the ongoing Gombe State Inter-secondary Schools Athletics and Principals’ Cup Football Competition have commended the Gombe State for the massive support to stage the annual games.
The games’ Competition Director, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, gave the commendation in a statement while addressing the press.
He said he was particularly grateful to the the state government for the release of sports facilities for the various competitions and for camping of over 3,000 athletes and team officials.
The former Gombe State Football Association chairman added that he was looking forward to a robust working relationship with the state government for a platform for the abundant talents in the state to realise their dreams of becoming professional sportsmen and women.
“I want to thank the Gombe State Government for the various supports given to is to successfully prosecute the games in the state.
“We particularly appreciate the state government for declaring a one week break for schools to participate in the games.
“Similarly, we thank the the state government for releasing sports facilities in the various schools to us for use during the games, without which we wouldn’t have been able to stage the games,” he said.
