Young athletes from Delta State have made an appeal to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to extend the tenure of the Chairman of the Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, for an additional two years.
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They believe that this extension would allow Okowa to continue nurturing their sporting careers and to find a suitable successor, Sports247.ng reports
Chief Tonobok Okowa’s second tenure as the Chairman of the Delta Sports Commission is set to end in February 2024. However, the young athletes are requesting that their tenure be extended to provide stability and guidance for their sporting aspirations.
One gymnastics athlete, Efetobore, expressed the athletes’ sentiments, saying, “We want our sports-loving Governor to listen to our appeal by extending his tenure for the sake of our young sporting career. Okowa is a good father to all of us, and he has an interest in Delta sports at heart. We want him to stay, even if it’s another two years, to enable him to groom a good replacement.”
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Another young athlete, Ossai, who plays volleyball, joined in the plea, stating, “Delta is Nigeria’s number one sporting state, and it takes a man with great quality to sustain the tempo. My parents stay close to Warri Stadium, and I was told the Governor is renovating the place. I thank him for that. But we want our chairman to stay for another tenure for our sake.”
The athletes believe that Okowa’s leadership has been instrumental in their sporting development. They hope that by extending his tenure, he can continue to support their growth, as he has done for other young athletes who secured scholarships in the United States.
An athletics coach also expressed support for the extension, emphasizing the need for intelligent leadership in sports. They cited the example of Habu Gumel, the president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee, who has held his position for many years, as evidence that an extended tenure can be beneficial to sports organizations.
However, it was reported that Governor Oborivwori was displeased with the Mobilization Committee responsible for organizing the opening ceremony of the sports event.
Despite receiving funds to mobilize students from 20 schools and 2000 Youth Corps for the event, the stadium’s stands were largely empty during the ceremony.
The committee cited difficulties in gathering students on a Saturday as the reason for the low turnout.
The appeal for Chief Tonobok Okowa’s extended tenure reflects the young athletes’ appreciation for his support and dedication to Delta State’s sports development. They hope that this extension will continue to foster a strong sporting legacy in the state.
