NED NWOKO HONOURED FOR CONTRIBUTION TO SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

By ABAH ADAH, Abuja

Renowned philanthropist, Honourable Prince Ned Nwoko, has been honoured in recognition of his commitment to sports development in Nigeria. 

Presenting the award  to Honourable Nwoko in a brief ceremony in Abuja, the President of UK-based Jose Foundation, Dr Martins Abhulimhen, said it was in recognition of the frantic efforts and sacrifices of the recipient to restore the glory of sports in Nigeria, and Africa at large through the sports focused Star University, Idumuje Ugboko, Delta State.

Dr Abhulimhen appreciated the lot Ned was doing to safeguard the future of sports generally and the youth in the country, adding that the focus of the foundation was to ensure that the right people were admitted into the sports community, to engender a competitive and focused sports system devoid of all forms of abuse across Africa.

Receiving the award, Honourable Nwoko, a former member of the House of Representatives, expressed delight at the award, saying it would inspired him to do more in the area of sports and youth development. 

On how he came about the idea of building a sports university, he said initially he intended to build a conventional university, but his discovery at a point that there was a wide gap in sports development in the country made him want to establish the sports focused institution.

Nwoko who disclosed that the institution vwas modelled after sports focused Loughborough University in England, said any young man or woman interested in sports and education would find a place at Star University which would cover all Olympic sports when operational. 

He said five of the seven structures recommended by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for a start were already in place, and efforts were on to ensure close collaboration with the Delta State government.