Fidelis Ebu
17 October 2008
Abuja — Top Government functionaries including Mr. President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker as well as dignitaries from the corporate world have been confirmed to attend the reception of Olympic medallist, Chuka Chukwumerije scheduled for Wednesday at the Transcorp Hilton.
Senator Ben Ndi Obi, Chairman Olympic reception Committee for the Beijing Olympics Taekwando bronze medallist, Chukwumerije, confirmed yesterday in a chat and said that policy statement should be expected when the Olympian would be honoured next Wednesday. The grand reception was earlier scheduled for last September 27, but was shifted for obvious reasons.
"We never go to any event prepared. People who are getting ready for the London Olympics, countries getting ready for the London Olympics have commenced immediately after the Beijing Olympics preparation for that. Nigeria will not start until a few days to the event - that is what we are noted for. So, we think the event (reception for Chukwumerije) will lead to a policy statement for the improvement of sports in Nigeria.
"We expect that the dignitaries who would be in attendance will lead the sporting authorities in making policy statement on how we can improve not only Taekwando, our sporting activities in the country", Senator Ben Ndi Obi said.
Speaking on Chukwumerije's feat Sen Obi said, "If you look at the young chap, Chika, you would want to admire the combination of his academic achievement side-by-side his success in the sporting event called Taekwando. And this is the time when you find out that the name of Nigeria is virtually being wiped off the map of the world for obvious reasons, and you find that a young Nigerian who's done well academically is doing very, very well also in the field of Taekwando. It's our duty if we recognise that the youths of this country, the youths of any society in fact are the leaders of our tomorrow.|
"It's our duty to encourage Chika, and by so doing encourage Nigerian youths to emulate what Chika stands for, and that's why some of us have decided that for this success Chika has to be duly and adequately accorded his dues.
Top Government officials - from Mr President, who has been contacted, the Vice President, The Senate president, Speaker and dignitaries as well as corporate world.
"Chika's feat was an important victory for Nigeria. You would be disturbed if you took time out to watch the events at the Olympics and finding out that lesser countries in Africa enjoyed their national anthem being played once, twice or three times as the case may be and you find out that giant of Africa is just not anywhere to be mentioned, but of course for the fact that Chika and one or two others were able to get recognition for our country.
"So, you can see how important it is and that is the highest sporting event in the world and for you to go there and achieve such a feat is not anything minor", he said.
Chika's father, Senator Uche Chukwumerije speaking about his son said "Chika meant an example of what could come from determination and clarity of vision; he meant what could come from proper initiative as distinct from sole dependence on government for everything.
Most important of all, he meant a pride derived from the achievement of a very obedient, highly focused and very committed child".
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