Wike Bags "Power of Sports" Award From International Journalists
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| Gov Wike and Mitchell Obi |
The event took place at Le Plaza, Brussels and was performed by the
President, AIPS, Mr Gianni Merlo and President, AIPS Africa, Mr Mitchell Obi.
Sports Journalists from 108 countries witnessed the event.
The AIPS President Gianni Merlo decorated the Governor with the Power of
Sport award, AIPS gifts and the history book whiles emphasizing that credit
deserve to be given when it is due. Honour for Wike is not of any surprise due
to his contribution to sport and becomes the first of its kind by AIPS Africa.
Presenting the award to the Rivers State Governor, President AIPS Africa,
Mitchell Obi said Governor Wike is being recognised for the use of sports as a
tool to effectively engage the youth population in the continent.
"It is indeed a badge of honour, freely and independently considered
and granted and we think strongly that this would serve as an apt catalyst to
His Excellency as he continuously strives to put sports on the front burner of
his developmental strides," Obi echoes.
In his acceptance speech, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike
dedicated the award to God, his immediate family and the good people of Rivers
State who have supported his efforts at creating a New Rivers State.
Governor Wike noted that the award by the International Sporting Press
will spur into greater commitment to the service of Rivers State and humanity.
"As a person I love sports, I follow sports keenly, I also enjoy
watching sports as a hobby. But, most importantly, I have long known the
positive power of Sports as a catalyst for social development".
"In Rivers State, our commitment to sports development has made the
state become acclaimed as a centre of sporting excellence.
We have been in office for only three years, but the things we have done
within this relatively short period to promote sports development clearly
attest to our profound commitment to sports development.
For instance, within this period, we have funded and hosted national,
regional and international events in different range of sports including:
v Several
international football friendly matches in Port Harcourt, the latest one is
coming up on the 28th of May 2018 between the national teams of Nigeria and the
Democratic Republic of Congo;
v The
Governor Wike National Wrestling Championship;
v The
African Wrestling Championship, where over 40 African countries participated;
and
v The
Rivers State Sports Development Initiative (under 17 athletes), which is
directed at discovering talents at the grassroots for future development.
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