Sports: Another Feather To the Crowded Cap of Philip Shaibu as Olympians honor him
It was an evening of gliz and rasmataz in the nation’s capital of Abuja Thursday as the Nigeria Olympians Association gathered to honor the best and brightest of Nigerian sports.
Highlight of the evening was when Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu mounted the stage amidst loud ovation as the organisers reeled out a catalogue of his intimidating achievements in sports development, especially in Edo State. The audience was held spell bound as it watched with rapt attention and all ears, listening to a well crafted documentary on Shaibu which dated back to his school days to his present position as Edo State Deputy Governor.
The colourful event took place Thursday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
Shaibu was honoured for his contributions and achievements in sports development. The award plague was presented to Shaibu by former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalong Esq.
On hand to honour the sports loving Edo State Deputy Governor were Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Blessing Agbebaku, his immediate predecessor in office, Rt Hon Marcus Onobun now a member of the House of Representatives, former Deputy Governor, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, immediate past senators Francis Alimikhena and Clifford Ordia, Chairman, Edo State Local Government Service Commisdion, Chief Tom Uloko and Oluwole Iyamu, SAN. Others were Chief of Staff, Office of Deputy Governor, Kingsley Ehigiamusor Esq, Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Alhaji Yusuf Ali, Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mrs Sabina Chikere and her husband, Vitalis, her counterpart in the office of Deputy Governor, Mrs Bose Joy Igbinobaro, Member, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Donald Okogbe, Chief Henry-Duke Tenebe, Engr Kenneth Asekomhe, Hon Damian Lawani, Hon Emmanuel Akhaba, Hon Frank Ilaboya, Lukman Akaimeakhu and DG, Edo Laison Office, Deacon Festus Osaigbovo.
In his response, Shaibu thanked Governor Godwin Obaseki for giving him the opportunity to manage sports in the state, adding that without the platform, he would not have done what he did to have deserved the honour. The Deputy Governor also appreciated the team that have been working with him to take the state to where it is today.
