The state-of-the-art facilities on the ground at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin have continued to attract both national and international sports federations as a choice destinations for their programmes and events.
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Since the remodelling of the stadium some three years ago, it has become a Mecca of sorts, hosting one national and international competition or the other and sometimes hosting multiple events organised by sports federations simultaneously, including the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Basketball, Handball and others.
The regular schedules of such important national sporting activities no doubt are in appreciation of the solid and world-class facilities put on the ground by the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration.
This time, the Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) in collaboration with the Union of Africa Gymnastics(UAG) are taking their turn as they are having a weeklong Gymnastics training programme for Nigerian coaches at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Gymnastics coaches from all states of the Federation are participating in the Train-the-Trainer course for gymnastics coaches which began on Saturday, October 7, 2023.
Edo Gymnastics coaches and athletes are the major beneficiaries of the training programme as the foreign trainers have begun to expose them to current trends without having to step out of their base.
In his remark, the head coach of Edo Gymnastics Association and national Coach Oni Erhunmwunsee expressed gratitude to the Edo state Governor Mr Godwin Obaseki for providing the gymnasium which is rated very high amongst its kind in Nigeria and the best in West Africa.
He said he was proud to be a part of the working system and the success story of the Edo Sports Commission.
“The international training programme being organized by the Federation of International Gymnastics is happening at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium today because we have a world-class gymnasium.
If our government did not put the facility on the ground, this programme would not have been brought here.
“We are grateful to our Governor. If we were to attend this programme outside the country, it would have cost us much or we wouldn’t have attended at all but now we are taking advantage of it because it is happening in our house. That is why we have fifteen coaches and our athletes in attendance and we will all benefit from it”, Coach Oni emphasized.
“We have never had it so good. Edo State alone has fifteen coaches, including athletes in attendance”. He added that the benefit is huge as those enjoying the training programme will also train others in the future”, Coach Oni emphasized.
The resource person from Canada Rick McCharles while speaking, described the Gymnasium at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium as ultra modern and world-class facility hence the choice of the international federations.
He said that the training programme is aimed at raising Nigeria’s level of participation and performance on the world stage.
By Kehinde Osagiede
