•Promises to empower Para Powerlifting athletes
From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
In a display of support for sports development and corporate social responsibility, NORTRA Tractor and Equipment Limited, has given monetary empowerment to Enugu State celebrated Paralympic powerlifter, Lucy Ejike and her husband, Obichukwu Ikechukwu, as they participate in the ongoing 22nd National Sport Festival, “Gateway Games 2024.”
Both Lucy who is representing Enugu State and her husband who is representing Abịa State on the Sports Festival received the sum of ₦200,000 each from the company which has pledged to empower Para Powerlifting athletes in the South East.
The Managing Director of NORTRA Tractor and Equipment Limited, Morten N. Andersen, represented by Managing Partner, Chinedu Amadi, who visited Lucy and her husband at a private gym as they concluded their training ahead of the Gateway Games, expressed the company’s interest in supporting Para-athletes in Enugu and the South East region, both at the professional and grassroots levels.
He said, “NORTRA is committed to corporate social responsibility. We believe in leveraging sports and entertainment to improve our economic outlook as a people and as a nation. As a world champion, Lucy Ejike is an inspiration, and we see this as a perfect opportunity to support her and showcase her talent.”
NORTRA Tractor and Equipment Limited, operating under the ownership of Danish Conglomerate ODK Group APS, has launched a Development Initiative aimed at strengthening and deepening the Agri-tech sector within the state and across the nation. The company plans to support critical stakeholders in the private and public sectors across the nation, starting with Enugu State.
“We want to engage and empower Para Powerlifting athletes, particularly Lucy Ejike, who is from Enugu State. We will work with our partners to develop an initiative to support athletes across Nigeria. Our goal is to add value by uniting and showcasing collaboration and inclusiveness.”
Beyond sports, NORTRA Tractor and Equipment Limited is committed to supporting STEM Agrictech education and youth development. The company aims to empower young minds, especially women, with skills in app development, Web3, blockchain, and AI.
He further said, “We’ve launched an all-hands-on-deck South East development Initiative, we aim to support critical stakeholders within the private sector and the public sector within the five states across the nation, with Enugu State as the kick off point largely because His excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, has clearly demonstrated that he is willing to grow the economy of the State, and we are happy to work with him on this journey toward growing the State’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn.
Discussing her journey back to fitness after getting injured at the 2024 Paris Olympic,
Lucy Ejike, the world record holder at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where she lifted 142kg in the women’s 61kg category, earning her third gold medal and the honor of being Nigeria’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, thanked the company for the gesture.
The powerlifter who will be representing Enugu State in the 73kg category for women at the ongoing festival said, “As you know, I’m trying my best to make sure that I returned to the game. I’m just buckling up because I’m just coming out of an injury.
“You know, I had an injury last year during the Paris 2024. So I just came out of the treatment, and I started my training and as it is now, I believe that God will do something. I started training in January, full-time and I believe I’m okay now and ready to perform and I’m going there to win in the 73 kilograms category.
“I know that all eyes are on me. Everybody wants to know what will happen in this Gateway Games because they know that Lucy has been out since. So this time they will look up to me to know what will happen. But God is going to surprise them.
“When I had the injury, it was during the Paralympic Games, and so the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Abuja took care of me, and when I met the Governor, the words he said to me gave me hope and restored my motivation.”
Obichukwu the husband, who won a silver medal in the men’s 52 kg event at the 2012 Summer Paralympics and a Silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, also spoke about his readiness for the Sports Festival as he represents Abia State in the 80kg Men’s Category.
He said, “I believe because my body is coming back. After all, I am working hard day by day to see that God Almighty will still see me because I believe in myself. Because I am doing training and doing everything possible for me to see that I do something. I am working for the gold, but if not Gold I will settle for silver.
“Abia State is trying their best and I believe this time we have a passionate governor like Alex Otti. I believe that the Governor will treat us well because the people that went to the Paralympics and other school sports, he received them well. So, we believe that the Governor will still do better. After the sports festival, we are hoping that he will do a lot for athletes.”