By Akeem Busari
The Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) has honoured the Executive Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and former Delta
State Governor James Ibori as patrons of the world famous club.
While Governor Okowa was honoured as the new National Patron, Chief James Ibori received the honour as the new National Leader of the NFSC.
The event which took place recently at Idjerhe Kingdom in Ethiope West
Local Government of Delta State,
during the funeral ceremony of the late monarch, HRM, Edward Igho Otadaferua, who was also a former vice-president of the NFSC, attracted the crème de la crème of the society.
The President- General of the NFSC, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, while decorating Governor Okowa and Chief James Ibori noted the immense contributions of the state to the development of sports in Nigeria.
Ladipo said: “These great men truly deserve the honours today. It is on record that during Chief Ibori’s tenure as Governor of Delta State, he impacted hugely on the development and encouragement of youths and sports in the state.
“He also made history as the only state governor in the country to build a stadium in all the state local governments,” Ladipo added.
On his part, the National Chairman of the Nigeria Supporters’ club, Rev. Samuel Ikpea was full of praises for the honorees.
He described the event as epochal and important in view of the contributions Gov. Okowa and James Ibori has brought to the state and the country in general, through sports.
” The honours bestowed on these distinguished Nigerians is to spur them into doing greater things for the country, as well as, motivate other well meaning Nigerians to contribute their quotas to the growth of Nigerian sports,” Ikpea enthused.
In his reaction, Ibori expressed his gratitude over the honour bestowed on him by the club, describing it as an encouraging gesture.
” What we have done in Delta State is to develop youths using sports. It is also heartwarming that we have produced great athletes like late Stephen Keshi, Blessing Okagbure, Austin Okocha and many others.
Gov. Okowa on his part thanked the leadership stated that Delta State would maintain its status as the number in sports in Nigeria.
He thanked the leadership of the NFSC for the honour adding that it was a testimony of the state government’s continued interest in the development of youths and sports in the state.
