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An appeal has gone to well-meaning Nigerians and socially responsible corporate organizations in the county to pay attention to sports development, with a view to helping nurture new talents that will win laurels at international competitions.
Making this appeal yesterday was the Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, who was speaking at the Investiture Ceremony for Patrons of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), held in his palace at Ikate, Lekki, Lagos.
The revered monarch while thanking the NOC for the honour, stated that he accepted to serve as a Patron of the Olympic movement in Nigeria, in view of the strategic role sports play in our socio-economic development, adding that it is time for everybody to support government in moving sports forward, as this can no longer be the business of government alone.
Oba Elegushi also reiterated that sports as a unifier of the people, regardless of our language or origin, deserves more attention from the citizens, especially the privileged, who he admonished to use their resources to promote sports, nurture new talents, which he opined would help to improve our peaceful co-existence as a nation.
Earlier in is welcome address, the President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr Habu Gumel stated that the appointment of the Patrons followed a rigorous selection process, before the final Patrons were identified and appointed.
He noted as Patrons of the Olympic movement, the patrons are the Ambassadors of the International Olympics and their experience; network and goodwill will help the NOC in its duties of improving sports and helping to entrench the values of the Olympics in Nigeria.
“The fatherly role and duties of our patrons, whom we are inaugurating today are majorly advisory and ambassadorial. We shall from time defer to your high offices, with a view to seeking your advice or guidance and also take advantage of your wealth of experience or connectivity to further strengthen our operations and the delivery of our common Olympic Movement objectives”, the President stated.
The new Patrons are former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Sir Marc Wabara, Chief Kofo Nwokedi and Oba Saheed Elegushi.
The ceremony was attended by ex football internationals, Olympians, sports administrators, business and diplomatic community, politicians and top government functionaries.
Signed:
Tope Oyefeso
Special Assistant, Public Affairs,
Oba Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom
