Hon. Benjamin Israel Eke: “We have developed and nurtured talents…”
Government School Ahoada, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State witnessed mammoth crowd during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Ahoada East Local government Area Chairman’s Football Cup Competition which took place on Saturday, December10, 2022.
Declaring the ceremony open, the Executive Chairman of the local government area Hon. Benjamin Israel Eke Esq. enumerated the deliberate efforts by the local government area in organizing sporting activities in the area
“Here in Ahoada East we take sporting activities very serious. We have the chairman’s cup, we have the wrestling championships, we organize sports festival annually. The reason for all is that we want a peaceful Ahoada East. Sports is one thing that unites our people and we are taking it seriously.
“Through sports in Ahoada East, we developed and nutured talents for the youths to earn their leaving through it”
Barrister Eke, admonished the participating teams to use the competition to foster friendships and propelled themselves in great hieghts of developing themselves in the area of sports endeavours.
“I encourage the competing teams to take the competition very seriously, play as friends and brothers, exhibit high level of sportsmanship, it is not a do or die affair. Let me inform you that in the just concluded national sports festival, about three of our wrestlers represented Rivers State those the opportunities we give to our youths to excel and earn their leavings”.
Addressing Journalists at the sideline of the event, the special guest of honour at the occasion, the Special Adviser School Sports to Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Aribitonye Okiri, praised the council chairman for his vision on the development of sporting activities in the local government area.
“Amongst the LGA in the state he is arguably the best in sports development. Every quarter, he does one sports development or the other. Today you can see the mamount crowd to witness this opening ceremony. Beyond the sporting activities here now you can see other social interaction. This is what other council in the state should emulate”.
Dr. Aribitonye Okiri further reiterated that sports is one of the instruments to develop the youths. He urged other local government areas in Rivers State to emulate the good vision of Hon. Eke through sports.
“Sports is indispensable, sports is a veritable tools for social development, we can use the power of sports to reduce crime and attract employment to the state. I urge local government areas in the state to invest in sports. Today we have a Rivers indigene from Ahoada LGA who has won Medal in the just concluded sports festival, I told him there is one other thing he should; to build a mini stadium for Ahoada LGA.” He affirmed.
The winner of 2022 chairman’s cup goes home with the sum of Five Hundred thousand Naira cash, the runners goes home with the sum of Three Hundred thousand Naira and the third place team will receive Two Hundred thousand Naira. There whole lots of other consolation prices to give out.
The 2022 edition is the forth consecutive edition of Ahoada East local government area chairman’s football cup competition.
