Grassroots Sports Development: Edo State Enters Partnership With Olympians
Three Nigerian Olympians have entered into a partnership with the Edo State Government to embark on sporting competitions, in a bid to discover talents in the region for international competitions.
A member of Team Nigeria athletes in 1971, Bruce Ijirigho, announced this on Wednesday in Benin when he led some ex-internationals on a tour of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Ijirigho, who was joined by Charlton Ehizuelen and Godwin Obasogie, pledged to inspire sports development in Edo and Delta States, the region that provided the platform for them to triumph. The trio were members of the Nigerian athletic team of 1971, adjudged the best in the history of the country.
“We are coming in through our sport, the athletics for now. We want to organise some competitions in the very near future,” Ijirigho said.
“We want to have the major reunion for our team of 1971 that designated this whole country in athletics at the Hussey Shied (Portharcourt). That is the greatest team ever in athletics in this country.”
He said they were impressed with the “world class” facilities at the stadium, hence would in 2024 stage a big competition between Edo and Delta.
“That competition will bring the best athletes out of this region for world competitions,” Ijirigho added. “We believe that more than 50 per cent of athletes that will represent this country in the future in athletics will be coming from that competition.”
Also speaking, Ehizuelen urged parents to see sports as a business just like other industries and allow their children with talents to always showcase it.
“If you have a child that is talented, you must give him the opportunity to showcase the talent. They could become the best in the country and go to the Olympics,” Ehizuelen said.
“They could go to college, go to university and the kids will come back to take care of the family and help the community also.”
It’s not every day one is graced by the presence of Olympians!
It gave me no greater joy than to hear our legends, Charlton Ehizuelen, Dr. Godwin Obasogie and Dr. Bruce Ijirigho speak to their passion for sport and how they intend to partner with the state to rejuvenate sports… pic.twitter.com/GHd8zsjp62
— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) August 2, 2023
