By Daily Sports on December 2, 2019

Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari did the groundbreaking of a university of transport in his village in Daura when, ironically most institutions of learning, up North are virtually empty or abandoned because of the people’s perception about western education. The leftists consider it a sin and evil, fueling the violence that has engulfed the North East and by extension other parts of the country via Boko Haram. Till date, the onslaught has ensured that most educational institutions in the area are almost deserted and left for snakes and dangerous reptiles to occupy.

A very important point to make here is that the President, to demonstrate his hate for education first closed down the then new federal universities established by former President, Dr, Goodluck Jonathan. However public outrage prompted him to reopen them but with a standing order that none of the Universities should add more courses. As a typical hypocrite, he gave the go-ahead to establish what he said is Transport University. Question is, is this institution out to serve who when Northern states are a no go area now. Your guess is as good as mine. Let ‘Sabi’ and his Decree No 4 come, we are ready!

Sports, our mirror

There is nothing I will add to last week’s article than to say that I stand by it and will not comment on some SMS that was sent to me by some individuals who I have always described here as sycophants of the first order. They have ruined many sports administrators in the past and continuing. I don’t owe any of them clearance before I publish, once my Editor-in-Chief who is a professional to the core okays such.

As an experienced reporter, I must continue to be within the confines of ensuring that facts reign supreme because facts are sacred while comments are free and candid. Let me leave this at that dot line and give more attention to that novel showpiece, Fan Ndubuoke and his team mounted last week in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The very well attended event tagged “IMOS SPORTS SUMMIT” met my expectations as it drew both the veterans and the present sports administrators together to rub minds. The faces I saw at the venue via the footages of Channels Television Sports showed that the Imo Sports Summit was no fluke. It was well thought out and planned as the execution was clinical...

Let me be honest with you by positing that Fan Ndubuoke is a goal-getter of the first order. To put it mildly, he could safely be described as a game-changer

I will mention few as backups when he came from Owerri and took up a reportorial job with then one of the rave in the Nigeria print media, Champion group of newspapers. He was in sports beat before he branched out to found a weekly all-sports newspaper, SPORTS LINK with his colleagues which they pioneered successfully and which became a daily until it was finally rested. The point here remains that it was successful to a large extent.

It would be recalled that Ndubuoke with other stakeholders revived the moribund national body of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, where he became its supremo and made it not only attractive but also profitable.

Ndubuoke’s acumen brought respect to SWAN at the national level which made him sit in the board of the Nigeria Football Association and he contributed immensely.

One remembers as if it was yesterday, when at his first tenure and after Algiers 1990 Nations Cup, when the body paid a visit to the then Pillar of Sports in Africa, late MKO Abiola in his then ever push and bubbling off Toyin Street Ikeja home. When introductions were made and Fan Ndubuoke announced his name, the very then humorous Pillar, quickly responded, “I hope this Fan will rotate.” The expensive living room, if you have been there, was electrified with laugher by all and sundry.

In his usual characteristic manner, he supported National SWAN to the fullest and Ndubuoke never disappointed. He left a big shoe which his successors have found extremely difficult to match. In short, he left his mark till date.

Ndubuoke is one that never takes NO as an answer. He sets goals for himself and so one is not surprised that he has started on a sound footing as the executive chairman of Imo Sports Commission. Baring any hitch, Imo State would surely excel again.

Ndubuoke pulled together what it takes in the sports administration arena both old and the young. The development of Imo sports from the look of things would run full circle. That was on the right and strong footing to say the very least.

The summit was frank and one believes that the outcome, I meant the recommendations would be fully implemented to give sportsmen, women, administrators, coaches and those associated with the game, a true sense of belonging to excel in their various endeavours on the field of play.

One is of the belief that it won’t be one of those several gatherings, both at the state and federal levels that we have witnessed in the past, laced with laudable objectives but eventually turns all motion and no movement.

Let me say that there are some reasons why Imo State Sports Summit would work. Chiefly, it is having hundred and one per cent backing of the State government. Again, the helmsman of the State Sports Commission is one with courage and vision to deliver handsomely. Some of the faces I saw at the summit, which l will not mention are experts in their rights and would make the project of upgrading and ensuring right infrastructures are on the ground for Imolites athletes a reality.

This pace-setting agenda by Imo State remains and gladdens my heart. One is also delighted to note that Sunday Dare, Sports Minister acknowledged this brilliant move by Imo and her sports proactive administrators.

Truth is, there are no long talks in evening discussions. Ndubuoke as the driver would anchor safely. The Fan would rotate this time again.  The Imo example must be embraced, if not by State but the sister State, Abia. It is long overdue and we need such broad-based sort in the State where many things are lacking in sports. The master plan called Nsulu Games Village put in place by those that knew sports inside out, has remained a shadow of its self, while the villagers have appropriated many parts of the government land.

Imo State Sports Summit remains a masterstroke and a great antidote for sports development in that State and one is still applauding the organisers and would plead that its implantation is holistic. This column and this all authoritative online portal would keep the interesting sports lovers posted as usual.

Our social media handles are open, so let’s discuss as usual. Keep shooting hard till next week!!  

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 2, 2019

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