Kwara State Governor Abdulffatah Ahmed has called for the establishment of  a national sports academy.

 Ahmed, in a statement  by his Chief Press Secretary Abdulwahab Oba, said the academy would help the country nurture the talents of athletes discovered from the National School Sports Festival.

According  to the statement, the governor  made the  call through his deputy Peter Kisra  during the opening of the 6th National Schools Sports Festival in Ilorin on Sunday.

  Ahmed said the country also needed  policies and programmes to  revitalise schools sports.

 The governor said, "Lessons should be learnt from China, Great Britain and others who have consistently demonstrated superior talent and resilence at the Olympics and other global competitions.

"When such talents are identified and nurtured through well-structured platforms the  difference between sports giants and dwarfs is clear."

He also called on  the private sector  to invest in sports, saying  there are  marketing opportunities that the sector could derive huge benefits from.

The Minister of Sports  Bolaji Abdullahi,  in his address  on the occasion,  commended the  state government for accepting to host the festival.

Meanwhile, Abdullahi insists Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi's job is safe, reiterating that government had no intention  to engage the services of a foreign coach to take the team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the  minister also  re-emphasised the need to revitalise grassroots sports, especially in the schools.