By Olivia Ekpe
Edo State is abuzz with sports excitement, thanks to the tireless efforts of Governor Monday Okpebholo, who has made significant strides in transforming the state into a sports powerhouse.
Mrs. Sabina Chikere, Executive Director of Sports Development and Operations at the Edo State Sports Commission, praised the Governor’s first year in office as “monumental” for sports in the state.
“Edo has become a paradise of tranquility and progress, a safe haven for sports development,” Chikere said, highlighting the Governor’s unwavering commitment to sports development and the support of his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa. Under Okpebholo’s dynamic leadership,
Team Edo achieved remarkable success at the 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun State, finishing among the top five.
The state’s athletes have also shone on the international stage, with Joy Nwabuzor winning the Africa Youth Scrabble Championship and representing Nigeria at the World Youth Scrabble Championship.
The state’s youth team secured a bronze medal at the National Youth Games in Asaba, a testament to the Governor’s investment in youth talent.
Edo State has also produced notable sports administrators, including Bright Idahosa, who was elected President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Uyi Akpata, President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, and Prince Kelvin Erhunmwunse, head of Nigeria Gymnastics. These leaders are working together to promote sports development in Nigeria, inspiring a new generation of athletes.
For Chikere, these achievements are just the beginning. “Governor Okpebholo has reignited the spirit of sports in Edo. His love and commitment have changed the narrative, and the results speak for themselves,” she declared. As Edo State continues to make waves in the sports arena, it has become clear that under Governor Okpebholo’s leadership, the state is driving Nigerian sports forward.
