By Saidu Abubakar
Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike (JP) has extended greetings to stakeholders in the Nigerian sporting circle, as the country marks 65th Independence Anniversary.
This was contained in a Press Release, he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Ilorin on Wednesday.
In the release, Ejidike says, Nigeria’s sports is presently witnessing rejuvenation with some positive results from the Super Falcons, D’Tigress, athletics and others.
He added that though the Super Eagles face a tough hurdle in making it to the next World Cup in Canada/Mexico and the USA, but with the huge support from the Presidency as well as the assurances from both the NFF and the NSC, cum prayers, “we are hopeful to secure a ticket to the mundial”, he said.
Ejidike who is also the patron of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, calls on the leadership of sports at all levels, to rededicate themselves to the development of sports in line with the vision of the National Sports Commission, under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko, for the long term benefit of the nation.
He also admonished athletes to, always, be patriotic and remember the sacrifices of the heroes past as inspirations, to keep the country’s flag flying, so that Nigeria can occupy her rightful place among the comity of sporting nations.
The Nnewi-born business mogul also expressed gratitude to sportsmen and women who have, right from independence in 1960, been doing Nigeria proud for their unquantifiable sacrifices for fatherland.
He also made a special mention of the Super Falcons and the D’Tigress who conquered Africa, recently, for record times respectively, and others involved in individual sports, like the World record holder in women 100 meters hurdle, Tobiloba Amusan among others who are too numerous to mention, urging them never to relent in remaining good ambassadors of the country.
The former President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN) expressed belief that, if the leadership of every sporting federation put in place, robust long-term development plans, it would launch Nigerian sports on a path of sustainable development. Hence, his call for a rededication of the leaderships in the sports sector.
The Anambra-born philanthropist therefore, called on all Nigerians to support the leaders in all sectors, as we strive to navigate this trying moments as a nation.
