Daily Independent Online.
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Thursday, July 01, 2004.
LG boss lauds Nkoyo Ibori, Theresa Udenwa on sports
By Ben Duru
Correspondent, Owerri
The chairman of
Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, Chief Samuel Anyanwu, has commended
the initiative of the wife of the Delta State Governor, Mrs. Nkoyo Ibori over
her sponsorship of the annual Nkoyo Ibori Games.
He also said the
initiative of the wife of the Imo State Governor, Lolo Theresa Udenwa has
become the bedrock, which is forcing him to embark on sports development in the
council for the training of budding athletes for the country.
Chief Anyanwu, who
was interacting with newsmen in Owerri said the massive promotion of sporting
events championed by the First Ladies would ensure that there would continue to
be events where these athletes can showcase their talents.
He said that this
has informed his reason to pursue with more vigor the construction of an ultra
modern stadium to be located at the council headquarters, Iho.
According to him,
the stadium would be used for football training, track and field events and
other local sporting events which would not only prolong the lives of members
of the community but prepare the youths for greater things.
“You see the
activities of Lolo Theresa Udenwa and Mrs Nkoyo Ibori have encouraged me to
pursue sports development in my council.
I have commenced the immediate construction of a modern stadium.”
He further said
that on completion “the stadium would be second to none when compared to
any built by any local government.
The reason is that since there are competitions that those we train
locally can participate in, why can’t I encourage them.”
The council boss
said that at the last National Sports Festival held in Abuja, the Federal
Capital Territory; some of the gold medalists in the entourage of the Imo were
from Ikeduru and that he has promised to assist them achieve their life
ambition.
Anyanwu also said
that his council area has been largely responsible for providing the bulk of
the players for the Iwuanyanwu Nationale and other clubs within the country
adding that it was now incumbent on him to make their training a lot easier.
“Since the
lot of providing star players and bulk of athletes to the football clubs as
well as the state’s contingent to national and international events has
fallen on the council, I should try and make the training and discovery of
these budding stars a lot easier.”
He also said that
he has instructed his sports development officers to ensure that they attend
all sporting events happening with the local government council and pencil down
names of those who have shown great
potential in whatever events they participated.
This, he said,
would enable him act as a go-between with the sport officials at Owerri with a
view to inviting them to see these stars in action and find roles for them both
at state and national levels.
