Establish body building academy in Imo, Sports Commissioner charges Nwamkpa

Photo: From L-R…Charles Ejiogu, SA to Governor Hope Uzodimma , Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo, Imo State Commissioner for Youth, Sports & Social Development, Prince Kennedy Nwamkpa,( Mr. Universe), Lady Linda Chikere and Mr. Actuality.

From Everest Ezihe, Owerri

Marvelled by the global exploits, Prince Kennedy Nwamkpa, (Mr. Universe) have achieved in body building / power lifting games, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo has passionately advised him on the need to establish an academy for the world class game in Imo State so as to groom younger successors like him, saying success without successor is meaningless.

Okoronkwo who’s Imo State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development gave this patriot advised on Wednesday when Nwamkpa popularly known as Mr. Universe paid him a courtesy call in his office at the State Secretariat along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri accompanied by Lady Linda Chikere.

According to the Commissioner, “this is the kind of person, Imo State and Nigeria is looking for and should be proud of. I am impressed with your persistent exploits of conquering the world in your chosen career for more than a decade now, our sports loving Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma will hear this and definitely host you. It’s important, you think of building a sports academy where interested Imo State young men and women will also be trained in body building and power lifting game so as to have world class successors like you” Okorokwo advised.

He revealed that a worthy Imo Sports Ambassador daughter is currently in Abuja with full assistance of the State government training to represent Nigeria in International Para Tennis tournament coming up fortnightly in Cairo, capital of Egypt noting the Eastern Heartland State as the home of sporting talents in Nigeria.

Okoronkwo who applauded Governor Uzodimma for being passionate in discovery sporting talents through the sponsorship of grassroots sports development and transformation noted the international laurels recently won by Mr. Universe as a mark of commitment, dedication and patriotism and assured him that his endeavours will be certainly appreciated by the State government and her populace.

Earlier, Nwamkpa who’s a native of Eziama Obaeri in Nkwerre Local Government Area of the State commended the Commissioner and Governor Uzodimma for all they’re doing to ensure the upliftment of sports and rekindling the State’s name in the nation’s annals of sporting State and appealed to them not to relent despite the challenges.

He pointed out that he has been in the sports for over 25 years having toured most of the countries within the continents and contested with different nationals in which in all he came out victoriously.

Nwamkpa informed that he has conquered the world for the past 10 years by breaking records and setting new records in Mr. Universe International Body Building and Powerlifting Competitions held in several countries of the world within the period.

The Sports icon lamented that most of his international sporting engagements are self sponsored and pleaded for change of the status quo from the handlers of sporting activities both at the Federal, State and corporate levels by sponsoring his subsequent international engagements, as he is making both the Federal and State governments proud by persistently bringing honours to them.

He also informed that he’s in recent time, a world class 82.5 kg record holder and that last year he went for another international competitions hosted in United States of America, were he won 3 Gold’s and 1 Silver and that it’s his wish and prayer, to dedicate and hand over one of the Gold”s and golden sculptural mementos to Governor Uzodimma in appreciation of all his administration is doing in the growth, transformation and development of sports in the State.

Nwamkpa further revealed that based on his immense contributions, he has advanced plans to sign Memorandum of Understanding, MOU with International Federation of Power lifting & Body Building for Nigeria to have the hosting rights of the next Mr. Universe International Federation of Power lifting & Body Building Competition and would like to attract the hosting venue to be in Imo State.

Highlights of the occasion was presentation of the 3 heavy gold medals and 1 Silver as well as 2 golden body built sculptural works to the Commissioner and his team that comprised Chief Charles Ejiogu, SA to the Governor, Mr. Everest Ezihe, Imo State SWAN Chairman, Mr. John Nwaogu, a veteran sports journalist, Lady Queen Ogbu and Mr. Saviola Godwin, media aides to the Commissioner among others.