As part of efforts to reposition sports in Edo State, Barrister Godwin Dudu-Orumen, chairman of Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), has set up a five-man sports associations reform committee. The committee, which is headed by Smarts Ebhodaghe, a journalist of more than two decades standing has as secretary, Lucky Adagbonyin, Secretary of ESSC. Other members […]
via ESSC boss, Dudu-Orumen sets up Edo Sports Associations Reform Committee — finixsportsblog
The Edo Sports Media Practitioners Forum (ESMPFO) is congratulating a former commissioner for sports in Edo State, Mr Anselm Ojiezua, on his emergence as the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The forum received the news of Ojiezua’s election in the party’s convention in Benin City with excitement as it indicates an inroad to the restoration of the sporting glory of Edo State.
According to the Chairman of ESMPFO, Osaretin Emuze, the coming of Ojiezua to the mainstream of governance in the Edo State will bring sporting activities to the fore once again.
As commissioner for sports during the 2006 National Sports Festival tagged the Gateway Games, Ojiezua was able to mobilize and motivate Edo athletes and officials to a great performance in the face of limited funds and obvious frustrations from those that had vested interest in pulling Edo down.
The former commissioner was always in touch with sports men and women in the state, to ascertain their requirements and would prevail on his boss to provide the needful.
Even after he was posted to another ministry in a cabinet shuffle, he would often suggest progressive and developmental ideas to his successor in demonstration of his interest in sports.
ESMPFO also commends he party members for electing Anselm Ojiezua to that position, an action that is victory for sports in Edo State.
Edo Media Practitioners Hail Minister Over Omorodion…Praise Oshiomhole, Itemuagbor Over Okpekpe Race…Sympathy Over Pa Itemuagbor’s Death
The umbrella body of Edo sports journalists in the country, under the aegis of Edo Sports Media Practitioners, have been reviewing its recent activities, with the leadership of the body saying that Nigerian sports may after all be on the right path under new Sports Minister Tamuno Danagogo.
A statement issued Friday by the body’s Chairman Osaretin Emuzie and Secretary Smarts Ebhodaghe, said it was particularly thrilled with the appointment of one of its members, Patrick Omorodion of the Vanguard Newspapers as the new Special Adviser to the Sports Minister. “Omorodion has been a shinning light in sports journalism in Nigeria and it took a discerning Minister to pick him out of the glut of sports journalists in the country. Minister, we can assure you as a body that the Omorodion we know will not fail you and the nation. Most importantly, you have a man who will tell you the true state of affairs in Nigerian sports only for the betterment of the system”, the statement declared.
The ESMP, also took time off to praise Edo state Governor Adams Oshiomhole, over his fresh strides in sports through the 10km Okpekpe race. The initiator of the race, Mr Mike Itemuagbor also received plaudits for his heroics, with the body hoping that the international athletics body, IAAF, will quickly grant the race the much desired gold status.
“Apart from his giant strides in infrastructural development, Governor Oshiomhole is also demonstrating a rare taste for sporting excellence through his support for the internationally acclaimed Okpekpe race and his drive to bring back the glory days of Bendel Insurance FC”, the statement further added.
“For Mike Itemuagbor, we have always known him as a man of excellence and we are not surprised that he initiated this wonderful testimonial of the abilities and potentials of the average Edo man”.
The statement finally commiserated with Itemuagbor over the passage of his father, Chief Pius Itemuagbor, who died at the age of 94, two days after the last Okpekpe race. “We know he died a fulfilled man and we cannot but pray God to grant his soul eternal rest”.
Edo Media Practitioners List Oshiomhole, Keshi, Amodu For Awards…Itemuagbor, Ihonvbere Also…Calls For Corporate Support For Okpekpe Race
The umbrella body of sports journalists of Edo State extraction, Edo Sports Media Practitioners Forum, has unveiled an ambitious programme for its maiden award night that is scheduled for the later part of the year.
The body which convened in Lagos on Wednesday decided that Governor Adams Oshimhole of Edo State, Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, former national team handler, Shuaibu Amodu, Okpekpe race initiator, Mike Itemuagbor and Secretary to the Edo State Government Prof. Julius Ihonvbere will be honoured for their contributions to sports growth in the state in particular and Nigeria in general.
The body which consists of prominent journalist like Ade Ojeikere, Frank Ilaboya, Felix Okugbe, Patrick Omorodion, Smarts Ebhodaghe, Aikhoje Ojeikere, Mike Maiyaki, Cecilia Omorogbe, Ojieva Ehiosun, Ben Alaiya and chaired by Osaretin Emuzie, said it was about time that sports in the state is redefined and the first step is to reward those who have been trying to reposition sports in Edo State.
Emuzie said in a release that Oshiomhole is being specially recognised for launching the revival of Bendel Insurance as well as the
reinvention of Edo State Sports Festival. Keshi is getting a special honour as a honorary citizen of Edo State and his achievement with the Super Eagles. On his part, Amodu is being recognized for his outstanding achievements as national team coach and the only Nigerian coach to have qualified the country twice for the World Cup.
Itemuagbor is being praised for his achievement in sports marketing in Nigeria and for initiating the 10 kilometre Okpekpe road race, while Prof. Ihonvbere is being recognized for his love for sports and the support he has been giving to sports development through several programmes that the government of Edo State has initiated through the SSG’s office.
While the body said it was in total support of Governor Oshiomhole, laudable sports programme, it urged Corporate Nigeria to back the Okpekpe Road race, which the IAAF has already listed on its international calendar for gold status. “We believe in the sports activities of the people and government of Edo State and throw our weight behind the Okpekpe Road, that has the potential of making Nigeria a sports and tourism destination in the nearest future.
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