By Abba – Eku Onyekachi
Abuja
There are indications that the representatives from 32 African countries have almost concluded arrangements to honour Nigeria’s president and chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the 1st African Invitational Swimming Champion (1st AISC) in the State House soon.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas of the Federal House of Representatives has already received the trophy of the 1st AISC from the organisers recently in Abuja for formal presentation to Mr. President, even as he noted that sports creates job opportunities for the youths either directly or indirectly, such as infrastructure and services, transportation, accommodation, including security, which help to reduce unemployment to improve household income levels while boosting economic growth.
According to the Speaker, the upcoming 1st AISC would be a good platform to discover credible talents that could represent Nigeria at international championships in the future, saying that the event would inspire youths of all grades would to participate competitively and imbibe the values of teamwork, patriotism and courage.
The International Director of Planning and Implementation of the Championship (IDPIC), Dr Godwin Tammy, while exchanging views with Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and member of the Planning and Implementation Committee (PIC) of the 1st AISC, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere in his office Tuesday said the Speaker was playing the lead role to ensure that the continental aquatic sport championship becomes a huge success. He added that swimmers and aquatic sport stakeholders drawn from 32 African countries would converge on Abuja for the 1st AISC, tagged, ‘Peace and Progress’ in honour of Tinubu.
He further disclosed that the continental event under the lead role of the Speaker was being organized by Africa Aquatics, Zone 2, Dakar, Senegal and Demakers Business Roundtable Abuja, in appreciation of the charismatic leadership and growing regional influence of Mr President in turbulent times in the sub-region.
Dr Tammy expressed his deep appreciation to the House of Reps. Speaker for his sacrifice of love and commitment towards Tinubu and Nigeria, describing the 1st AISC as a moment of aquatic sport festivity in the FCT. He informed that the trophy of the championship would be unveiled during its formal presentation to the president, which will signal the commencement of the event.
Tammy also hinted that the championship, organized in collaboration with relevant institutions within and beyond the African continent, would be hosted by the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
“This is the first of its kind, ever organized in honour of an African leader. It promises to be an exciting event and a moment of glory, laced with blissful ecstacy, finesse and alluring quality of talents dotted across Africa with over five thousand male and female swimmers from 32 countries converging on the beautiful city of Abuja to fight for the continental crown. It will attract a collection of regional stakeholders in sports development who are committed to youth development and empowerment,” Tammy hinted, expressing the hope that the international invitational swimming championship would help to discover more young talented swimmers, who will represent Nigeria in future international swimming championships.
As a member of the PIC of the event, Ugochinyere said his Committee was working round the clock to achieve set goals, just as he reiterated the commitment of Hon. Abbas towards the unveiling and official presentation of the trophy to Tinubu soon to kick – start the event.
It will also be recalled that Tammy recently presented the trophy of the 1st AIISCA to Abbas, preparatory to the official unveiling/presentation to President Bola Tinubu on a later date in the State House.
Dignitaries present during the handing over of trophy to the Speaker include Prof. Dan- Azumi, Jake, Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Hon. Aliyu Mustapha, Vice Chairman, Upstream Petroleum, Dr. Chamberlain, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Hon. Jingi Rufai, among other house members.
