By Cross Udo, Abuja
There are strong indications that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas will soon lead representatives from 32 African countries to honour Nigeria’s president and chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
It will be called that Abbas, while receiving the trophy of the 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship from the organisers recently in Abuja for a formal presentation to Mr President, had noted that sports create 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.
He said that the forthcoming swimming 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship would be a good platform to discover credible talents that could represent Nigeria at international championships in the future, adding that the event would inspire youths of all grades to participate competitively and imbibe the values of teamwork, patriotism, and courage.
The International Director of Planning and Implementation of the Championship, Dr Godwin Tammy, while exchanging views with the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Member of the Planning and Implementation Committee of the 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship, Ikenga Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere in his office at the National Assembly Complex on Tuesday said the Speaker, House of Representatives, was playing the lead role to ensure that the continental aquatic sport championship becomes a huge success.
He said swimmers and aquatic sport stakeholders drawn from 32 African countries will converge on Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory for the 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship, tagged, ‘Peace and Progress’ in honour of ECOWAS chairman and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR.
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He further disclosed that the continental aquatic tourism event under the lead role of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas was being organised by Africa Aquatics, Zone 2, Dakar, Senegal, and Demakers Business Roundtable Abuja, in appreciation of the charismatic leadership and growing regional influence of President Bola Tinubu in turbulent times in the sub-region.
Tammy expressed his deep appreciation to the House of Reps. Speaker for his sacrifice of love and commitment towards President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, describing the 1st. African International Invitational Swimming Championship as a moment of aquatic sport festivity in Federal Capital Territory.
He informed that the trophy of the championship will be unveiled during its formal presentation of the trophy to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, which will signal the commencement of the event.
Tammy also hinted that the championship, organised in collaboration with relevant institutions within and beyond the African continent, would be hosted by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FTC), Nyesom Wike.
He expressed 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.
Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), and Member of the Planning & Implementation Committee of the 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the Planning & Implementation Committee was working round the clock to achieve set goals, just as he reiterated the commitment of Tajudeen Abbas towards the unveiling and official presentation of the trophy to President Bola Tinubu soon to kick start the event.
It will be called that Godwin Tammy recently presented the trophy of the 1st. African International Invitational Swimming Championship to Tajudeen 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 the trophy to the House Speaker include Prof. Dan-Azumi, Jake, (Chief of Staff to the Speaker), Dr Aliyu Mustapha (Vice chairman, Upstream Petroleum), Chamberlain (Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker, and Jingi Rufai, among many Honourable members of the House of Representatives.
