Chief Solomon Ogba’s nomination for this year’s Sportsville Special Recognition has continued to elicit wild reactions from a cross section of the athletes family. Chief Ogba, the current Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) first Vice President, is being nominated for honours in the ICON Category of the award.
Tunde Popoola, the Secretary General of the Olympic Committee, said Ogba’s contributions to sports development in Nigeria, especially in athletics remain evergreen.
“This award by Sportsville as the Sports Icon is a fitting one for one of the biggest contributors to the nation’s sports development.
“From his time as Commissioner of Sports in Delta State and the President of Athletic Federation of Nigeria and now our First Vice President at the Olympic family, Ogba’s contributions have remained infectious, leaving indelible landmarks everywhere.
“I want to thank Sportsville for not only initiating this award, but also honouring personalities like Ogba,” the former hockey player said.
For the current AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, this award for Ogba couldn’t have come at a better time when Nigeria is beginning to reap from Ogba’s vision and investment in athletics.
“Look at our athletes that are making waves today all over the world, there is none that don’t Ogba’s imprint.
“His passion for the game is something else. His drive to get the best out of the practitioners is worthy of commendation.
“For us in the athletic family, Chief Ogba remains a big inspiration and we want to use this auspicious occasion of this well-deserved award to felicitate and appreciate him for all is doing for the game,” Okowa, a recipient in the 2022 edition of the Sportsville Award, added.
Henry Amike, one of the greatest hurdlers Nigeria has produced also adds his voice to Chief Ogba’s nomination.
He says; “I am not surprised that Ogba is being recognised by one of Nigeria’s leading sports outfits, Sportsville.
“Chief Ogba’s contributions to athletics is beyond what one can capture in few words. He is the guru as far as I am concerned, that is why most refer to him as Igwe of athletics and he remains a shining ,” the former President of the Nigeria Olympians Association declared.
Chief Ogba is being honoured in the Icon Category alongside Rt Hon Victor Ochei, Otunba Segun Runsewe OON, and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
The ceremony comes up on Friday, March 1st at EKO CLUB, Surulere Lagos.