Porbeni wants all Olympic sports to feature in National Sports Festival
President of Rowing and Canoeing Federation of Nigeria Rear Admiral
Festus Porbeni has spoken on the need for all the Olympic sports in the country to be part of the National Sports Festival .
Speaking at the finals of the Rowing, and Canoeing competition at the just concluded maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival held at the Marina Waterfront (Ibom Hotels) where he launched the Ibom Rowing, Canoeing & Sailing Club for Akwa Ibom State, he expressed displeasure at the fact that his Sports which Nigeria is performing so well on the continental and world stage is not listed for the 2024 National Sports Festival tagged ‘Gateway Games’.
” It’s unfortunate that all our efforts at making Rowing and Canoeing a popular sport in the country is not being appreciated. It’s important that the National Sports Commission give the so called lesser sports more attention and allow all Olympic sports to be part of this year’s National Sports Festival”, began the former Minister of Agriculture and one time Ambassador to Romania and Equatorial Guinea
” Rowing and Canoeing has over 40 gold medals at the Olympics and presently, Nigeria is ranked number one in Africa and number eight in the world and yet the sports is not included in the country’s version of the Olympics which to me is an aberration.
” Although the sports is not yet a household name in most states of the Federation, but it is common among some of Nigerians festivals in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, Ondo etc for recreational purposes and if it’s well developed, will win Olympic medals for the country
The retired General expressed happiness with what Ayomide Bello who was discovered in one of their championships in Lekki Beech is doing in the sports, positing that she’s now one of the world beaters in the sport and is representing Nigeria so well as a National and African champion as well as being the first female canoeist from Nigeria to qualify for the Olympics.
He also commended Beauty Otuedo who competing alongside Ayomide Bello, took just 2.24.45 seconds to seal top spot in the women’s C2 500m category on home water at Jabi Lake which gave the country an Olympic quota for Paris 2024.
On what the Federation is doing under his watch to further develop the game, he explained that the Federation is now constructing their own boats which matches international standard.
“Initially we got Boats from abroad, and got expects from Brazil to come and help mark the lanes for us, but I’m proud to inform you that we are now constructing our own boats which matches international standards and our own technical personnel have been through training and are now certified to mark the lanes for the races.
” The Federation is also striving hard to make the sport viral as some rowers, such as Chierika Ukogu and Johnathan Akinyemi, have represented Nigeria in international rowing tournaments and we want to produce more athletes that will make the country proud in the sport.
Admiral Porbeni appealed to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General Chief Bukola Olopade to take serious look into addressing the problems of lesser sports.
