From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Worried by the number of hours and energy most Nigerians spent daily in unnecessary things, Mrs. Nkechi Ezugwu has passionately advised that such time and energies should be optimally diverted into doing sporting activities for their overall mental and physical fitnesses.
Ezugwu who’s the Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Services, NIS, Imo State Command gave the advise on Thursday when she received in solidarity with her senior lieutenants, the members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Imo State Chapter led by Rotn. Everest Ezihe in her office at the Federal Secretariat, Owerri .
Ezihe said there mission is to appreciate, recognized and decorate the sporting heroine as Distinguished Matron of the association, based on her immense contributions in sports development, upliftment and transformation in Imo State and Nigeria at large with special reference to Beach Volleyball.
The NIS boss who hail from Nsukka in Enugu State is also the Chairman, Nigeria Volleyball League Management, described sports people as highly disciplined, honest, naturally dedicated to duties, most especially, physically and mentally fits noting the prime purpose of sports to be for all round human developments.
The Physical and Health Education graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria informed that right from her kiddy age, she was destined to be actively involved in sports as she was naturally energetic like her mother.
Ezugwu who’s also the 2nd Vice President, Nigeria Volleyball Federation and first grade member Nigeria Referees Association, lamented that Nigerian sports men and women are suffering alot due to lack of incentives and motivations, but their drive is the joy of doing what they are endowed with.
She expressed gratitude to SWAN for the recognition and assured of herself and NIS willingness to have collaborative partnership in any sporting endeavours with the association.
The Queen of the track, as she was popularly known and addressed in her hay days informed that since she assumed office as the 30th Comptroller of NIS in Imo State Command, she has made frantic efforts to ensure that some coaches with Imo State Sports Commission are always around to teach her men, combatant sports due to the nature of their jobs especially in Judo, Kickboxing, Karate,Taekwado, etc.
This one time Senior Officer in charge of Sports in NIS said she is equally encouraging her men to be able to engage in competitive sports as she’s reaching out to other security agencies in the State for an annual tournament among the agencies and that SWAN will be deeply involved.
Earlier, Rotn. Everest Ezihe, the Chairman of Imo State SWAN said the essence of their visit is to appreciate the NIS boss for her immense contributions in the growth, transformation and development of sports in the State and more especially in Nigeria, and for the association to revive her collaborative partnership with the Command.
Ezihe extolled the virtues of Ezugwu in terms of sports and philanthropy and advised her not to relent.
He appealed to the sports icon on the need to assist the association in her programmes geared towards improving his members professional out puts.
Adding his voice, Mr. Kennedy Onwunali of Global FM expressed gratitude to the sporting ambassador for her prowess in sporting activities and enjoined her never to relent.
Onwunali canvassed the need to resonate the State’s annual Security Agencies Game as a tonic in building brotherhood and discovery of potential sporting talents in the State.
Also speaking,on behalf of NIS, Mr. Benjamin Uwagboe, Deputy Comptroller, Migration and a seasoned body builder applauded Sports Journalist for the recognition of their Sports Logistics Expert, Mrs. Nkechi Ezugwu which he equally said, is an honour well deserved by NIS.
Uwagboe further reiterated the need for the sustenance of the mutual partnership insisting that the Command is committed to sports participation, development and upliftment.
Highlight of the occasion was the decoration of Mrs. Ezugwu with the Association’s customized garland as Distinguished Matron and Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation.
Among the Senior Officers of the Command that witnessed the historical ceremony were C N. Ufomba, Visa & Residence and M. I. Eluwa, HRM, Deputy Comptrollers respectively Just as K.A.Achonwa, PCO, V.C. Uwalaka Quota and P.U Asagwara, Investigation & Compliant are Assistant Comptrollers respectively.
Others are J.C. Chiekezi,NIMCOS, Chief Supritendant, A. I Igbeita, Pa-CIS and C.C Herbert’s, Command Provost are of the ranks of Supritandents respectively while C.N Okere, Command PRO and J.C Olisa, Chief Press Officer are Assistant Supritandents respectively.
