Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-06 03:20:25
Isaac Osaikhiwe Isaac has been re-elected as the president of the Tug-of-War Federation, cementing his position as the head of the organization. This re-election took place at the eighth yearly meeting of the federation, which was held at the conference room of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) at the National Stadium in Lagos over the weekend. The federation also elected other members of the board, with Bashir Abubakar being elected as the vice president.
In his acceptance speech, Osaikhiwe expressed his gratitude to the delegates for their trust and confidence in his executive and pledged to work even harder to make Tug-of-War a focal point for talent discovery in Nigeria. He also provided an account of his stewardship in his first tenure, highlighting the achievements of the outgone board, which included the inauguration of associations in various states across the country. These new associations were established in FCT Abuja, Bayelsa, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, and other states. Osaikhiwe stated that the current executive would focus on positioning the sport as a scoring event at the National Sports Festival and participating in international events. Efforts were also being made to introduce the sport to schools in line with the federation’s grassroots agenda.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) was declared open by Babatunde Popoola, the Secretary General of the NOC. He was accompanied by the Public Relations Officer, Tony Nezianya. The new executive committee of the federation was introduced, with Rear Admiral Etop Ebe as the second vice president, Babatoba Samuel as the technical director, Shola Ogundele as the treasurer, Jude Iduh as the national coach, Tombiri James as the assistant national coach, and Raymond Akparuere as the PRO. Additionally, Ibrahim Umah, Jennifer Udeh, Daniel Ohioma, and Musa Abdullahi were also announced as members of the new board, while Abdulkareem A. Macaulay was returned as the Secretary General/International Representative.
During the AGM, Popoola praised the board for maintaining peace and discipline within the Tug-of-War Federation, making it an attractive organization for the armed forces and paramilitary bodies. He encouraged them to continue their efforts to spread the sport all across the country and emphasized the importance of democratic principles in doing so. Popoola also reminded the members of the challenges associated with sports management and expressed his confidence in their ability to overcome these challenges.
Overall, the re-election of Isaac Osaikhiwe Isaac as president and the establishment of the new executive committee mark a milestone for the Tug-of-War Federation. With a renewed focus on growth and development, the federation is poised to make significant strides in promoting the sport within Nigeria and internationally.
