… Governor points youths to productive engagement
… sets tone for private sector leadership
Dividends are pouring in, following the long-running investments and dedication of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to raise infrastructure and encourage the youth to the pinnacle of sporting accomplishments and leadership in Nigeria.
Governor Obaseki has in the past six years undertaken transformative reforms in the sports sector, investing in the upgrade of infrastructure and other exercises, leading to the repositioning of Edo State as the nation’s number one sports destination.
Following a best-of-class upgrade, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium has become the favourite ground for national and international competitions, including the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) national trials, which ended days ago.
The world-class stadium boasts of a 12,000-capacity covered arena, with natural turf and refitted running tracks; tennis and squash courts, a new Olympic-size swimming pool and an indoor suspended gymnasium.
Other facilities at the stadium include those for weightlifting, wrestling, and other combat sports. The stadium has also been outfitted with new high-capacity electronic score screens, floodlights, and Video Assistant Referee technology.
The Benin Stadium recently hosted the second consecutive Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) national trials, following the hosting of trials for both the World Championships in Oregon, USA, and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, in 2022.
The AFN 2023 trials in Benin City featured over 160 home and foreign-based athletes, including world champion, Tobiloba Amusan, silver medalist at the last World Championships in Oregon and Ese Brume, among others.
Endorsements for the facility have been pouring in from a number of accomplished sports administrators, as well as athletes.
AFN President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, after a facility tour of the Ogbe Stadium in Benin, commended Governor Obaseki-led State Government for its upgrading of infrastructure and sporting orientation in the state.
Okowa further urged other states to emulate Edo State along these lines.
“We find Benin comfortable for our national events. The infrastructure is solid,” he said.
“Most importantly, let me commend the Edo State Government and the Governor for their magnanimity in hosting the 2023 World Athletics Championship Trials,” he remarked.
The AFN President added expressed confidence that Amusan and Brume who already qualified for the international meet, would do Nigeria proud at the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championship.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has restated the state government’s commitment to sports development, maintaining that the state will continue to improve sports facilities to further encourage local and international athletes.
The sports-loving Deputy Governor was speaking after watching world champion Tobi Amusan claim the 100m hurdles title for the fourth time at the World Athletics Championship Trials on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
“We will continue to improve our facilities because standard facilities are key to great performance and encouragement. We are happy to host the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for the second time.
“This World Athletics Championship Trials in Benin is a rare opportunity for us to showcase our facilities and capacity to host more national and international events in Edo State.
“Edo is the most secure state in the South-South Sub Region of Nigeria, and is reputed for hospitality,” Shaibu emphasised.
The Deputy Governor, who expressed delight at the use of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium by the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, said that the state would be glad to host them again if they make such a request in the future.
“We are happy as a state to host the rest of Nigeria and we will continue to host them. As we speak, the Handball Federation is also having their Ardova Premier League going on at one of the multipurpose indoor halls of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
“The Basketball Federation did theirs recently and we expect the Aquatic Federation soon in Benin,” Shaibu further said.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) World Championship Trials “Benin 2023”, climaxed with a dinner reception on Friday, July 7, 2023, in honor of athletes and officials who came to Benin from far and near to participate in the World Athletics Championship Trials.
While appreciating Edo state Government for revamping the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, the organizer of the dinner, Barr. Dele Edokpayi, the Edo State Athletics Association Board Chairman, stressed the need to complement Governor Godwin Obaseki’s developmental efforts by taking athletics to the next level and encouraging private investment in the sports industry.
“We want to take sports to what it used to be in Edo State and in Nigeria. It is an industry and we don’t want our industry to die. Those of us who have a passion, that is why we are going to put our money, our energy, to make athletics one of the great events in this country.
“Government does not have all the resources, sport is a private sector driven initiative elsewhere, that is what we want to do. We want to take it away from Government and make and take it to the next level,” he emphasised.
For his part, the Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission, Yusuf Alli, reiterated the Deputy Governor’s message and dream for the Edo State Sports Commission’s sporting activities which include drawing up a monthly timetable where every association must have an event, at least one event at the stadium.
Yusuf also lauded the Edo State Governor for providing standard facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. He also acknowledged the efforts of the Sports Commission’s Director of Facilities, Mr. Victor Edokpayi, for ensuring a sustained effective maintenance culture that has kept the Stadium decent, clean, and ready for use at all times.
“The facilities in Edo are among the best in this country. We are proud to say it anytime. And for it to be in this shape, it’s not only one person that makes the facility look good. But in Edo State’s Samuel Ogbemudia Sports Complex, it is one person, Victor,” he said.
In her remarks, Rita Mosindi, AFN Secretary-General, commended Yusuf Alli for the work at the Stadium.
“During the Festival, I wasn’t opportune to be here. I was somewhere outside with the hockey team. When I came here, I saw the perfection, the neatness, everywhere was sparkling, no doubt, honestly, the Director of Facilities you are awesome. God bless you for this wonderful facility, and for maintaining it.
“We have one in Abuja, and I know what it looks like. I appreciate you so much for the way you have been maintaining this place. Keep it up my brother,” she further said.
Speaking on behalf of the athletes, Ese Brume appreciated the AFN officials and organizers of the events for putting up a great Championship Trials, as well as for their support to the athletes.
“I will like to thank the organizers of this International Trials. This is one of the best International Trials I have seen.
“In terms of the facilities, they’re great, and the turn-out was awesome. I would say this is home for us,” Ese remarked.
Similarly, as the first round of the 2023 Ardova Handball Premier League ended in Benin, the Edo State capital, the President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) Mr. Sam Ocheho commended the Edo State Government for its support, hosting a hitch-free league in Benin.
The HFN President expressed his appreciation during an interview with journalists at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. He said Edo State is now home to the Handball Federation of Nigeria. Ocheho said everything has been working well for the Handball Federation in Benin.
“We thank God for a hitch-free contest in Benin. We are here in Benin for the second time. Recall that Edo State also hosted our Division 1 League and we just ended phase one of the Premier League in Benin today,” he said.
Furthermore, the upgraded Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City is set to host the best women’s football tournament as the ancient city of Benin hosts the 2023 CAF Women’s Championships League-tagged WAFU B 2023.
Inaugurating the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the tournament in Benin, Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu charged the members to hit the ground running and make the tournament a memorable one. He said the Edo State Government is set to host and come out with the best of its kind in the West African Sub-Region.
The inauguration was held on July 7, 2023, in his office at the Government House, Benin City, with NFF officials joining virtually from Abuja.
Seven countries in the West African sub-region are taking part in the two-week tournament. These are Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, and Cote d’Ivoire. It runs from August 18 to September 2, 2023. Responding on behalf of the committee, Ali said: “As host state, we are leaders in Nigerian women’s football; we shall not disappoint Edo people and indeed Nigeria. We shall come out with the best tournament in the history of CAF.”
Other competitions previously held at the prestigious Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium so far, include the Edo Judo Association Maiden All Primary School Judo Championship in July 2023; the AFN 2nd All-Comers/Golden League Trials in June 2023; the abridged 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and NWFL matches; the 2023 Federation Cup matches; the Canada 2023 World Clubs Gymnastics preparation games in April 2023, by Edo Gymnastics Association, as Nigeria Gymnastics Federation (NGF) prepared for Invitational World Clubs Gymnastics Championship to be held in Canada in November this year; the Men and Women 2023 Edo State Federation (EFA) Cup tournaments in March 2023;
Meanwhile, in his untiring efforts at sports development in Edo and meeting the target of raising 10,000 grassroots athletes in five years among other plans, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Friday, April 28, 2023, inaugurated 31 Sports Associations’ executives.
Inaugurating the various associations which have the likes of Uyi Akpata (President of National Cricket Association), Governor Obaseki asserted that the Edo Sports Commission’s programme and objective of discovering and nurturing 10,000 athletes, which at implementation will make Edo State a sports tourism destination, is realisable with the right professionals already assembled to form the bedrock of sports administration in the state.
Recall that the Governor Obaseki-led administration, on the assumption of office, announced that one of its cardinal objectives was to revamp the state’s sports sector, starting with the reconstruction of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and other sporting facilities across the state.
The 31 Sports Associations include Athletics, Aquatic, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Chess, Cricket, Cycling, Dart, Deaf Athletics, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Karate, Kickboxing, kungfu, Para-athletics, and Rugby.
Others are Scrabble, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis Wheel Chair, Traditional Sports, Volleyball, Weight Lifting, Wrestling as well as Para power Lifting.
In the same vein, Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, inaugurated a 12-member organising committee for the successful hosting of Edo State Secondary Schools Games, as part of the sports development strategy of the State Government aimed at enhancing grassroots sports.
The State Government had earlier set up an inter-agency committee to look into the inclusion of sports in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools in the State. The committee’s report has since been approved by the State Government.
According to him, this has brought to the fore, the need for the institution of Edo State Secondary School Games, as a way of creating a platform for athletes to display their sporting skills.
It is pertinent to note that Super Eagles Manager Jose Peseiro has expressed satisfaction with the standard of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
The foreign manager of the national team was speaking after an inspection of the facility on Sunday, February 5, 2023, in Benin, noting that the facility is world-class and that the maintenance is superb. He commended the Edo state government and the Sports Commission team over the standard of infrastructure and maintenance culture already in place. He said that it is one thing to put massive infrastructure in place, maintenance is another thing that is very important.
The Super Eagles manager who was at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in the company of some Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials including the Federation’s Technical Director, Austin Eguavoen, watched Bendel Insurance vs Gombe United NPFL week six match in Benin on Saturday.
Also, The Technical Director, of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and former Bendel Insurance FC player, Austin Eguavoen commended the Edo State Government and the management of Bendel Insurance Football Club for the provision of world standard facilities, welfare, and exhibiting professionalism in the management of the traditional club.
The former Super Eagles defender and coach gave the commendation on Monday, January 30, 2023, when the Benin Arsenals arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (local wing), Abuja, en route to Maiduguri for their match day 5 engagement with El-Kanemi Warriors.
On a good note, in January 2023, The Edo State Government disclosed plans to organize an annual Head of Service Cup and inter-ministerial sports tournament, as part of the government’s commitment to sports development in the state. The Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, while addressing journalists in Benin City, said the government is sustaining the investment in sports to promote healthy living, create jobs and boost the state’s economy.
