Nigeria’s  Ex-Int’l Athletes Partner Edo Govt on Sports

Adibe Emenyonu  in Benin City

Ex-Nigerian internationals in athletics have entered a partnership with the Edo State Government to embark on sporting competitions that would unearth best track & field talents in the region for global competitions .

Leading some sports legends on a tour of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Dr. Bruce T. Ijirigho, pledged to inspire sports development in Edo and Delta states.

Ijirigho, who was a member of Nigeria’s team to the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada but was denied the opportunity to compete in the quarter mile and the 4x400m relay as Nigeria led 26 other African countries to boycott the Games, noted that he missed becoming an Olympic gold medalist.

Also at Ogbemudia Stadium were the duo of Dr. Godwin Obasogie and Dr Charlton Ehizuelen who was the world’s leading best long jumper to the Montreal Games.

Obasogie pledged: “We are coming in through our sport, the athletics for now. We want to organise some competitions in the very near future. We want to have the major reunion for our team of 1971 that distinguished this whole country in athletics at the Hussey Shied (Port Harcourt). That remains the greatest track & field team to ever come out of this country.”

After facility tour, these ex international athletes said they were impressed with the world-class facilities at the stadium and would in stage a big competition between Edo and Delta states in 2024.

According to Obasogie, “That competition will bring the best athletes out of this region. We believe that more than 50 per cent of the athletes that will represent this country in the future in athletics will be coming from that competition. Trust me, they will represent Nigeria at the Olympics and other global track & field meetings.” 

Dr. Ehiuelen while corroborating Obasogie, urged parents to begin to see sports as business just like other industries and allow their children with talent to always showcase them.

“If you have a child that is talented, you must give him or her the opportunity to showcase that talent. They could become the best in the country and go to the Olympic.

“They could go to college, go to university and the kids will come back to take care of the family and help the community at large,”he concluded.