Less than five months from now, the tenure of current chairman of Delta Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa, will end, having served eight years (two terms of four years each).
For majority of the athletes, coaches and administrators who spoke to The Guardian, the sports commission will need a man, who has good relationship with the corporate world.
Midway into the just concluded Seventh National Youth Games in Asaba, the organisers ran into what an official described as ‘financial hitch,’ which nearly affected the smooth running of the event.
However, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori quickly rescued the Games by providing the needed funds for the closing ceremony. Since then, the athletes, coaches and officials have been pondering on the kind of person that will steer the Sports Commission’s affairs with little financial assistances from government, considering the harsh economic situation in the country.
“To be sincere, Delta Sports Commission needs a capable hand to replace Okowa. We need someone, who is vast in the corporate world. Someone, who can pull his weight and bring in sponsors for activities of the Sports Commission since the government can’t do it alone,” one track and field athlete told The Guardian shortly before the closing ceremony of NYG.
“But if it possible for Okowa to continue in office for another term, we will appreciate it,” the athlete said. In the same vein, one coach, who pleaded anonymity, said: “No doubt, the harsh economic situation in the country now will affect sports, particularly, at the state level. We are so fortunate to have Tonobok Okowa as chairman of the Sports Commission, because he used his money to sponsor some of the events pending when government’s money would come. Now, things are getting more difficult, and the incoming chairman must be someone who can think beyond government purse.”
The Guardian learnt that the position of the chairman of the Sports Commission has been zoned to Delta Central. Between 1999 and 2007, Chief Solomon Ogba, an Isoko man from Delta South, served as Sports Commissioner, while Pinnick Amaju (Itsekiri, Delta South) was the Sports Commission boss from 2007 to 2015. Chief Tonobok Okowa (Ika, Delta North) took over the position in February 2016.
Some of the names being put forward from Delta Central to take over from Okowa in February 2024 include former tennis star, broadcaster Ejiro Omonode.
In his days as tennis player, Omonode, who hails from Jesse, Ethiope West Local Council, ruled the famous Ogbe Hard Court, Benin City, which was the biggest tennis tournament in the then Bendel State. His working relationship in the corporate world in Lagos and other parts of the country may help him in piloting the affairs of the Sports Commission.
Omonode, a product of Government College, Ughelli, has been in the forefront of the GCU Relays, a competition that has produced top stars for the country in the last five years, including U.S.-based sprinter, Godson Brume.
