Governor’s Cup: Uzodimma, architect of diversification of Imo youths empowerment- Ogbonna

Photo: The two teams that played the ceremonial opening match with the officials of the competition.

By Everest Ezihe, Owerri

Prince Eleazar Ogbonna, the Chairman Imo State Sports Commission says Governor Hope Uzodimma is an architect of diversification of youths empowerment

Ogbonna who’s the organizer of Governor Hope Uzodimma’s Victory Football Competition that’s involving the 27 council areas of the State disclosed this last Saturday at Dan Anyiam International Stadium,Owerri shortly after the ceremonial opening encounter between Oru West Local Government Area ( ie Governor Hope Uzodimma’s ancestral Local Government Area) and Mbaitoli LGA ( Deputy Governor Ihuoma Ekomaru’s Council Area).

The ceremony which started with a kick off by Chief Macdonald Ebere, PhD. the State Chairman of the ruling political party, All Progressive Congress,APC saw the two Local Government Areas display good football artistry as Oru East forced Mbaitoli into 1- 1 draw, though with the Governor’s council area outplaying the Deputy Governor’s side in terms of skills, doggedness and ball control.

Excited Ogbonna speaking to Sports Journalists, reiterated that the competition which will be played on Zonal basis starting from Sunday,(28/01/2024) while the finals and the best loser will be played at Dan Anyiam International Stadium, Owerri on a date both the Governor and his Deputy will be in attendance with their new political appointees and other stakeholders of the State.

He pointed out that the football competition is part of his Commission’s strategic means of supporting the Governor in his vision for youths empowerment and grassroot sports development as well as appreciating the Governor and his Deputy for their landslide victory at the last gubernatorial election in the State.

The Chairman also said that, “It’s a strategic means of buying into the Governor’s Skills Up Job Creation Initiative Programme geared towards providing jobs and putting food on the table of Imo State youths.

“Governor Uzodimma is also highly committed in removing Imo youths from the streets so as to avert crimes and anti-social vices ”

Ogbonna popularly known and addressed as Ambassador, maintained that Governor Uzodimma’s ‘Shared Prosperity Governance’ has grassroot sports development and transformation as a major means of empowering gifted Imo youths and a part of his Skills Up Job For Imo Youths programme.

He also informed that during the ceremonial opening match, that himself and the State Director of Sports, Sir Ferdinand Emeana were able to recognize and pick 8 good players that are likely to be taking to Europe or Asia for serious football business engagements; through the Commission’s ‘Talents Hunt initiative Programmes’ that will cover the entire 27 LGA, so that they can pursue there career in a higher pedestal.

In his speech, Hon. Henry Okafor one of the Governor’s favoured aides and one time Chairman, Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC commended the Sports Commission Chairman for initiating such innovative youths empowerment programme.

Okafor who commended Governor Uzodimma for being youth friendly, described Ogbonna as sports administrator par excellence noting that both attended the same secondary school even though Ogbonna was his senior in school but both actively played for the school and Iwuanyanwu Comets FC, Owerri in the early 90’s.

The Political icon who described the London based Ex -Nigerian international footballer as a sports administrative technocrat, further applauded Governor Uzodimma for his diversification in empowering Imo youths.

According to him, ” this is a take off of another angle of empowerment, sports is one of the best modern ways of empowering the youths “.

He further lauded Sports Journalists in the State for being constructive and objective in their reportage and canvassed the need for carrying them along noting that he is an advocate of empowerment of Journalists

Adding his voice,Sir Ferdinand Emeana, the State Director of Sports said that, they are celebrating Governor Uzodimma through the competition for his government revolutionary actions in sports development and transformations in the state as well as using the Chairman of the Sports Commission as one of the vehicles for the growth of sports in the state since inception of his administration over four years ago.

Emeana re-emphasised on the benefits for the selected budding football stars that would be exposed to European, American and Asian markets through the competition.