Ikpokpo congratulates Okon

The newly constituted board of Delta State Athletics has been officially inaugurated by the Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Onoriode Oborevwori, who charged it to sustain and build upon the state’s long-standing reputation as a powerhouse in Nigerian athletics.
 
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Sports Commission headquarters in Asaba, was presided over by the Acting Director General of the Commission, Emuobo Egalase, who represented Oborevwori.
 
Delivering the chairman’s message, the Acting director general emphasised the importance of continuity and innovation in sports administration.  He urged the new board to intensify efforts in talent discovery, athletes’ welfare, and competitive excellence, which, he said, have kept Delta State at the top in national athletics tournaments over the years.
  
“You are coming on board at a critical time,” she stated. “Delta State’s dominance in athletics must not only be maintained but elevated.  The task before you is to build on the solid foundation already laid and ensure our athletes remain the best in the country.”
  
In his response, the chairman of the board, Itiako Ikpokpo, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and pledged to run a performance-driven board focused on results.
  
“Our commitment is clear,” Ikpokpo said. “We will continue to roll out impactful, result-oriented programmes that will develop our athletes and showcase the best of Delta talent on national and international platforms.” He assured stakeholders of transparent leadership and active collaboration with coaches, athletes, and relevant bodies to uplift athletics in the state.
 
Meanwhile, Ikpokpo has congratulated Gabriel Okon, who won the election to represent the  South-South zone at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. Ikpokpo said, “Okon surely has a name and deserves his place in the athletics world. The zonal election was a family affair and I fully concede defeat to Gabriel Okon, who is a brother and friend.
 
“However, I enjoin him to strive for effective and target-driven representation of the zone on the board.” Ikpokpo added: “Athletics is not just big, but a critical subsector of our sports, and our fortunes in recent times indicate that there is a lot of work to do. This requires a high level of commitment and selflessness, which can only be achieved by not continuously pandering to the cleavages that have held the sports down, but by opening up the athletics ecosystem for greater participation and contributions by persons who are passionate about the sport.”