Follow Us on Google
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, and other eminent Nigerians are expected to converge on Yenagoa to celebrate the President of the Independent Grassroots Sports Development Association (IGSDA), Chief Miebi Ogunu, as he marks 50 years of impact as a sports administrator in Nigeria.
Chairman of the planning committee, Hon. Uroh Omiekumo Kiani, who disclosed the attendance of Jonathan, Diri, and others at a press briefing in Yenagoa ahead of the activities lined up for the event, stated that other activities include an awareness walk from Ekeki Park to the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, a novelty match, table tennis at the Fortress on Oxbow Lake Road, and a track and field event.
Hon. Omiekumo Kiani further disclosed that an anniversary lecture will be held on Friday at the D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, while the dinner will take place at the same venue.
He described Ogunu’s contribution to the development of sports as invaluable, stressing that as a banker he used his personal resources to initiate meaningful grassroots sports programmes.
Kiani pointed out that Ogunu did not look at monetary gains, but rather invested his resources into the future of young athletes in the country.
Chief Miebi Ogunu, in his remarks, stated that he has identified over one hundred athletes in his fifty years of impactful grassroots development in the country.
Other News
He noted that he was happy to celebrate his fifty years of impactful grassroots sports development in the country, starting from the old Rivers State to date.
According to him, he was one of the few persons across the nation back then in the Youth and Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) who went into multi-sports development programmes in the country.
He stated that he played a significant role in discovering table tennis stars such as John Otukpa, pointing out that he and the retired athletics coach, Morris Terimo, have discovered talents that have represented Bayelsa and the country in different competitions.
While appreciating the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) for the partnership over the years, a visibly elated Ogunu outlined the talents he has nurtured, which include Ikechukwu Ezenwa, former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Akpan Bassey, Diseye Nwankwe, Dimie Ineididie, and Wisdom Magbisa, who is currently plying his trade with Bayelsa United.
Chief Ogunu, who is currently a board member of Bayelsa United, expressed gratitude to God that all the players he has nurtured to stardom have become breadwinners in their respective families, adding that sports journalists should imbibe the habit of record-keeping.
