An ex international, track and field, and now a Coach, Innocent Iheme Friday, joined the state governor, Alex Otti to reward the victorious Abia athletes who won medals in sports events.
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, had last month announced employment for 15 athletes who won Gold and Silver Medals in international and National Sporting Competitions.
Otti made the announcement at his residence in Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area, during a reception held for Abia’s victorious athletes from both international and national competitions, congratulated the athletes for making the State proud.
The event also honoured Gold and Silver Medalists from the recently concluded Paralympics, along with their coaching crew.and were recently hosted by Governor Alex Otti.
Following this trend, Iheme hosted the medalists at the Umuahia Township Stadium while commending sports development under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, and called on all to join hands with the governor to develop sports in Abia, urging also other ex-internationals to join hands to develop talents in the state.
Iheme who is also the founder, CLIMM Track and Field Foundation stressed the need to harness talents in the Abia so that the state would not be losing potential athletes to other states, stating “If you see any talent that is not being taken care of, they will just take over the talent. And if they keep doing that, Abia State will be will be losing”, adding. “Due to the support of Dr. Alex Otti even when he has not become the Governor, he was supporting CLIMM Track and Field Foundation”.
The ex international also handed over a new athletics camp he built and donated to the Abia State Sports Council, disclosing that he built the camp to encourage the upcoming athletes in the state, and appreciated the efforts of the State Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George in reviving the Sports Council in the state.
Speaking, the State Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George thanked Iheme for not only giving the athletes cash rewards, but also promised to place some of them on monthly allowance as well as building a camp room for athletes, while describing the gesture “as laying of strong foundation in sports development” and urged other ex internationals to emulate Iheme in supporting government to develop sports as government cannot do it alone.
“The presence of our Governor and what the Commissioner (for Sports) is doing in the state has attracted some of our old athletes like Coach Innocent Iheme. It takes a huge amount to develop sports and government cannot do it alone. I pray that his colleagues who are all overseas should please come home and help. Abia is moving forward.” Comrade George further stated and commended Governor Alex Otti for his unwavering support towards the development of sports in Abia, adding that all that the Governor has done in sports development has attracted ex athletes to support sports in the State.
The event featured cutting of anniversary cake of one year in office of Comrade Obioma George among others while the Director of Sports reeled out his achievements within one year in office which has put Abia Sports Council on high pedestal .
