Fall out of National Volleyball League: Insecurities in Imo is over blown – Uzodimma

Photo: Imo Stae Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku in hand shake with Army Warrant Officer 2, Mrs. Sheba Jefferson,(rtd), the NVF referee Disgnate for the 2023 National Division 1 & 2 Volleyball Competition Leagues hosted in Owerri, Imo State capital. Pix by Everest Ezihe, Owerri

From Everest Ezihe, Owerri

Overwhelmed by peace and stability that reigned throughout the one week of the 2023 National Volleyball Division 1 and 2 leagues competition hosted in Owerri, Imo State capital, Governor Hope Uzodimma said that the rate of reportage of insecurities in the State is over blown and orchestrated by political enemies and detractors.

Uzodimma who was ably represented by his deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku disclosed this at the indoor sports hall of Dan Anyiam International Stadium Complex, Owerri during the historical closing ceremony of the national leagues sporting fiesta organized by Nigeria Volleyball Federation, NVF.

According to him, ” am pleased that through out the competition and your stay, there was no negative report, no security threat, as you go back to your various States, tell the people the truth of what you saw, in terms security, hospitality and your relationship with the people.

” Be an ambassador of the State by telling them the truth that the issues of insecurities in Imo State are over blown by the media in connivance with the state government’s sworn political enemies and detractors. Owerri and its environ are safe, and centres of hospitality. Imo people are adequately secured” he assured.

He discribed the competition as vigorous and that every team was optimistically in high spirit of winning abinitio, informing that the beauty of sports, is you either win or loose and each team embraces the outcome of the games with the spirit of good sportsmanship.

The Governor congratulated the players and the officials for their comportments which he said aided in the success of the competition and thanked the leadership of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, NVF under the able leadership of Engr. Musa Nimrod for finding the State worthy of the 2023 hosting right

He also thanked Mrs.Nkechi Ezugwu who’s the 2nd Vice President of the Federation as well as the State Comptroller of Immigration for her examplary labour of love to the state and assured her of the state government willingness to appreciate her soon.

Uzodimma insisted that his Shared Prosperity administration is committed in the transformation and upliftment of sports in the state through institution of programmes for grassroot talent hunts.

He reemphasized the mission and vision of his administration towards putting Imo State back into national and global maps by ensuring that their sports men and women are prepared for breaking world records, this he said prompted his government commitments in the ongoing renovations and upliftment of her stadia, sporting infrastructures and facilities.

Earlier, in his speech, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo, the State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development expressed gratitude to the players and officials of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, NVF especially Mrs. Nkechi Ezugwu, the 2nd Vice President of NVF for her financial and patriotic contributions towards ensuring that Imo State hosted the competition seamlessly.

Okoronkwo recalled that the Governor despite his busy schedules was on Saturday 3rd June in the stadium ultra modern renovated volleyball pitch flagged off the ceremony and one week later he’s back at the international stadium to declare the event closed, which he said is a total demonstration of his administration’s commitment towards sports and its advancement.

He applauded Governor Uzodimma for his Shared Prosperity administration’s interest in repositioning of sports in the state noting that under his watch, the State has bounced back to national and international sporting glories.

In the same vein, Mr. Ferdinand Emeana, the State Sports Commission’s Director of Sports recalled that Imo State hosted the national competition last in 1998 expressed happiness that the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma has broken the jinx of lackadaisical neglects of sports men and women as well as its infrastructures by previous administrations of the State.

Emeana also thumbed up the state government for its renovation and upliftment of Dan Anyiam International Stadium Complex after years of neglect as well as her commitments in transformation of sports through the grassroots.

He further expressed gratitude to the leadership of Nigeria Volley Federation, NVF, recalling the tremendous roles Mrs. Nkechi Ezugwu and Engr. Musa Nimrod played to ensure the successful hosting of the event while thanking the state Commissioner of Sports, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo of being an examplary Sports Administrator.

Adding his voice during the vote of thanks, Commodore James Pindar, the Chairman FCT Volleyball Association, Abuja thanked Imo State Government on behalf of the leadership and members of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, NVF for accepting to host the competitions and offering them basic hospitality.

Pindar who’s also the Coordinator, Chief of Naval Staff Spikers Volleyball Club that won all their four matches in Division 1 recalled the respect been accorded to Imo State in the recent past due to her citizens prowess in sporting activities but lamented that the spirit have for some years now nose dived due to the State government total neglect on sports and its activities, and called for change of attitude and improved fundings.

He further pointed out that Imo State is nationally known as centre of excellence for sporting activities thus, there’s no State of the Federation you will not see Imo State born sons or daughters playing key roles in sporting activities insisting that the State is endowned with talented sports men and women and enjoined the State government to remain focused in her commitments towards the improvement of sporting activities in the state.

The Sports Administrator whose team was a darlyn of all the fans and spectators during the sporting fiesta expressed happiness for the hosting, safety and hospitality of the people.

According to him,” Imo people are accommodating and love strangers. There was no single incident of security threat, attack or misnomer. The national impression that Imo State is unsafe in terms of insecurities is honestly untrue . The impression is erroneous and over bloated. Imo is safe and hospitable” he said.