Rowing, Canoeing, and Sailing Federation in Nigeria president, Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni rtd has made a strong case for the inclusion of the water sport into the National Sports Festival.
Speaking at the recent maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival where rowing and canoeing was featured, Rear Admiral Porbeni argued that Nigeria has huge potentials in the sport and all efforts must be made to make rowing and canoeing a popular sport in the country. Besides it is an Olympic sport.
“All Olympic Scoring Sports should be automatically included in our Nigerian Olympics which is the Bi-annual National Sports Festival,” Porbeni said.
With many water bodies in Nigeria and human resources, Porbeni maintained that the country can make impact at the world level. He spoke of his desire to promote his Federation which has over 40 Gold Medals in the Olympics and Nigeria is ranked 8th in the world, but it is treated with levity in Nigeria.
He called on the leadership of the National Sports Commission led Malam Shehu Dikko and the Director General Chief Bukola Olopade to address these unfortunate scenarios in our Country.
“We have been struggling at the Olympics with our king of Sports Football and many other sports with no medals at the last edition, whereas we can easily give other sports like the so-called lesser sports like Canoeing, Rowing and Sailing that has over 40 Gold Medals. And note that Nigeria is currently ranked 8th in the world and Africa number one through the efforts Federation’s Technical Director Mr Ebenezer Ayomide Bello,” added Porbeni a former Nigerian Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea and Romania.
He maintained that in terms of technicalities Nigeria was gradually catching up with the rest of the world.
“Initially we got boats from abroad, and got expects from Brazil to come and help mark the lanes for us, but I’m proud to inform you that we are now constructing our own boats which matches international standards, and our own technical personnel have been through training and are now certified to mark the lanes for the races.
“At the Niger Delta Sports Festival all the equipment were locally produced, and the marking of the lanes was done by our own lads who are now qualified technical personnel.”
Rowing and Canoeing is a type of sports that involves propelling a boat on the water using oars. It is a kind of sport that can serve both as a recreation, fun and competition. In Nigeria, Rowing & Canoeing can be predominantly seen in riverine areas, though not as a sport, but it is common among some of Nigerians festivals in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, Ondo, Kebbi and other States with water bodies for recreational purposes.
Nigeria is not famous for rowing. However, the federation is striving hard to make the sport popular as some rowers, such as Chierika Ukogu and Akinyemi, have represented Nigeria in international rowing tournaments.
Sir Festus Porbeni got involved in the water sports when the Federation was initially concessioned to the Navy and he took charge with his interest in water Sports. He has since 2008 helped the Sports to be recognized and put Nigeria’s name on the world stage within 18 years of his involvement.
Under his leadership athletes like Ayomide Bello and Beauty Otuedo were discovered and went on to represent Nigeria at the Olympics. Ayomide Bello who was discovered in one of their championships at the Lekki Beach, Lagos.
Ayomide was born in a canoe, and now a Nigerian rowing star. Her mother actually gave birth to her inside a canoe some 20 years ago. Ayomide Bello grew up to become the first female canoeist from Nigeria to qualify for the Olympics.
Beauty Otuedo competing alongside Ayomide Bello, the Nigerian duo took just 2.24.45 seconds to seal top spot in the women’s C2 500m category on home water at Jabi Lake. They also secured an Olympic quota for Paris 2024. This Article was contributed by Obong Ntiense Williams “Mr Rugby.”
