By Aduku Aruwa
The Director of Sports at the Kogi State Sports Council, Mr.Obakachi Onipe, has called on stakeholders in the sports sector to synergise with the state with the view to developing wrestling.
The Sports Director made the call when he was honoured with an Award of Excellence for his contributions towards the growth and development of wrestling in Kogi State.
The Kogi State Wrestling Association, in collaboration with the Confluence Wrestlers Association, Lokoja, presented Awards of Excellence to individuals who contributed to the development of wrestling.
The award was presented by Head Coach Wrestling, Ologunja John, when he led a delegation to his office in Lokoja.
Mr. Onipe while appreciating the delegation for the honour, said the gesture will spur him to contribute more to the development of wrestling in the state.
He called on stakeholders in the sports sector to synergise with the state wrestling association with the view to developing the sports and harnessing the abundant talents.
Onipe who acknowledged that sports remains a tool for development in the country as well as a vehicle for enhancing the welfare of youths, appreciated the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo led administration for his contributions towards the growth of the sector.
The Kogi State Wrestling Association, in collaboration with the Confluence Wrestlers Association, Lokoja,presented Awards of Excellence to individuals who contributed to the development of wrestling.
Other recipients of the awards include: the Publisher of The Reporters, Alhaji D.U. Ahmed, Mr. Akowe Adejoh, first secretary, wrestling 1992 to 1995 and Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, the Stadium Manager of the Kogi State Sports Council.
In his response, Ahmed expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged to strengthen his online publication’s commitment to promoting wrestling and other sports in the state.
Other awardees also commended the organisers for the initiative and promised to continue supporting the development of wrestling and sports in Kogi State.
Speaking during the award ceremony held at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, the state wrestling coach, Ojo Ologunja John, conveyed the gratitude of both associations to the awardees.
He lauded the awardees for their tremendous roles in advancing wrestling and sports development in Kogi State.
