Tennis: On The Sea of Eternity as Port Harcourt Club Tennis Section Immortalized Rt Hon. Tonye Harry
By Eyo Kelvin
Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, Captain of Port Harcourt Club Tennis Section
The Port Harcourt Club Tennis Section paid tributes to celebrate a philanthropist for his legacy and contributions towards development of talent and lawn tennis during the seventh edition of Rt Honourable Tonye Ezekiel Harry memorial tennis tournament at the Port Harcourt Club.
Rt. Honourable Tonye
Ezekiel Harry was until his demise a member of the Rivers State House of
Assembly, he was Deputy Speaker of the 4th and 5th Assembly and Speaker of the
6th Assembly, his patriotic commitment to the rule of law and contributions to
the growth and development of Rivers State through the legislature will be
missed.
As a way to immortalize
his legacy, the Port Harcourt Tennis Section has been renamed after Rt Hon.
Tony Harry which was known as "Freedom Square" after approval was
obtained from the management of Port Harcourt club 1928.
Speaking to Kelviano Media, Captain of the Tennis Section,
Chijioke Amu-Nnadi said that he benefitted from the Kindness of Tonye Harry “Rt
Hon. Tonye Ezekiel Harry he should be one for the finest gentlemen I’ve ever
met in Port Harcourt club, he loved people, he loved to help people, he loved
to build people, I was a beneficiary of his kindness, the entire tennis section
benefited immensely from his kindness”,
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| Welcoming Address by Chijioke welcoming members of Rt Hon. Tonye Harry family and stakeholders |
“Our pavilion as you
sees it today was rebuilt and finished by him, he set up academy were a lot of
young Nigerians from all over Nigeria gathered in Port Harcourt Club to train,
learn and build themselves as tennis players”,
Chijioke Amu-Nnadi further stated “And for all of them
who were part of his academy, he put in schools, a lot of them are at the University
of Port Harcourt, and I was witnessed to all these and I’ve been part of the
yearly celebration of his life and legacy, when I became captain he was very
natural that I have to continue in that vein”,
“So what we did today
is to honour a man that deserves to be honoured, as I have said in many places,
the best testimonial of great men who die is that they continue to live with us”.
Amu-Nnadi explained.
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| Wife of Rt Hon. Tonye Harry and family members |
The memorial had in attendance great personalities who also
paid tributes in no particular order notably, Amanyanabo of Okpo, His Royal
Highness King, Dr. Diamond Enoch Tobin West, former Vice Chairman of Degema
Local Government, Gospel singer Pamela Scott and among others.
Meanwhile, the seventh
edition of the Rt Hon Tonye Harry Memorial Tennis Tournament held at the Port
Harcourt Club saw Emma Afangide emerged overall champion of the tournament;
Ihesie Emma secured the second position while Ibiba Williams came third and
other consolation prices were won by participant of the seventh edition.
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