Inaugurates State-Of-The-Art Table Tennis Facility
Charges State NSF Contingent On Podium Finish
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has
announced cash gifts for wrestlers from
the state in the Nigerian team to the recent Under-20 African championship in
Morocco.
Governor Diri, who received the young wrestlers on
Wednesday inside the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Yenagoa,
rewarded gold medalists with N2 million, N1 million for silver medalist and
N700,000 for the bronze winner while the coach of the female team, Oyeins
Tangi, got N2.5 million.
The female medalists were Mercy Genesis (Gold 50kg),
Ebi Biogos (Gold 72kg), Ebipatei Mughenbifa (Gold 65kg) and Hannah Reuben (Gold
68kg).
The male wrestlers were Stephen Izolo (Gold 65kg),
Newlife Ebikeme (Silver 92kg) and Andrew Ebierilayefa (Bronze 74kg).
The governor said by their achievements, they made
both Bayelsa and Nigeria proud, and urged them not to rest on their laurels but
to strive for more success.
While assuring that the government will continue to
support state athletes, he expressed delight that younger wrestlers were being
groomed to step into the shoes of the likes of Olympic silver medallist,
Blessing Oborududu.
The state’s helmsman called on Bayelsa youths to
emulate the wrestlers by choosing a path that brings success and honour rather
than getting involved in cultism.
Presenting the wrestlers and a trophy won by the
female team for the 14th time, the Commissioner for Sports, Dr. Daniel Igali,
commended the governor for his continuous support and encouragement to the
state’s sportsmen and women.
Governor Diri, also on Wednesday, inaugurated an ultra
modern table tennis facility built by chairman of the state table tennis
association, Mr. Amaebi Stow.
He described the facility located in the Oxbow Lake
axis of Yenagoa as the first of its kind in the country.
Senator Diri
commended Stow for the laudable gesture, which he said aligned with his
administration’s vision for sports development.
He restated his call to corporate organisations,
particularly the oil firms operating in the state, and other public-spirited
Bayelsans to take a cue from Stow and partner the state government to develop
the youths.
His words: "This young man has made a strong
statement about his passion for sports development by giving back to his state.
He has demonstrated that he is indeed a sportsman and a Bayelsan.
"Let me call on other Bayelsans to borrow a leaf
from Stow. There are other Bayelsans that are far richer than him. Let them
also give back to the state either in sports, education or health as government
alone cannot do everything."
The governor, who described sports as a money spinner,
urged youths to take advantage of the facility known as The Fortress to hone
their talent, stressing that facilities were critical to developing athletes.
According to him, Bayelsa has not been able to host
the National Sports Festival because of inadequate facilities, which he said
informed his government's decision to build a world class stadium.
Chairman of the occasion and Senator representing
Bayelsa East, Chief Benson Agadaga, enjoined youths to fully utilise the
facility in order to win laurels for the state at the National Sports Festival
in Ogun State from this weekend.
Also, Director General of the National Sports
Commission, Mr. Bukola Olopade, represented by his Special Assistant, Ebidouwei
Oweifie, described The Fortress as a foundation for the future and a symbol of
progress for table tennis in Nigeria.
Olopade expressed gratitude to Senator Diri, saying
his commitment to grassroots sports development has inspired stakeholders in
the sector.
He also stated that the facility's inauguration was a
resounding result of the state’s investments in youth development.
Chairman of the Bayelsa House of Assembly Committee on
Sports, Hon. Tari Porri, in his goodwill message, described Stow as a pride of
Bayelsa and that he should be encouraged to do more for the state.
Also, Dr. Daniel Igali, in his welcome remarks, noted
that facilities were crucial to sports development and that if The Fortress was
put to proper use, it would produce champions for the state and country.
In his address, Stow, who is also South-South zonal
representative of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, said the project was a
contribution not only to the sporting future of Bayelsa but also to Nigeria.
He stated that the facility was part of his strategic
initiative to position Bayelsa as a hub for table tennis excellence and promote
social cohesion among youths.
He said the facility was equipped with two
restaurants, two spacious lounges, changing rooms, three shower rooms among
other amenities.
Highpoint of the event was presentation of an Italian
table tennis coach, Luciano Esposito, to the governor.
Meanwhile, Governor Diri, on Thursday, charged the
state's contingent to the National Sports Festival to work hard in order to
emerge overall winners.
He stated this after the weekly Prosperity Walk at the
Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa, urging the athletes to conduct
themselves as exemplary sportsmen and women while staying focused to win
laurels for the state.
He noted that having emerged fourth, third and second at previous editions, the only position left was the first
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