The board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has congratulated its President, Solomon Ogba on the ‘Special Recognition Award’ bestowed on him at the 17th City People Awards for Excellence 2014.
The former Delta State Commissioner of Sports was honoured for his outstanding contribution towards the development of sports in Nigeria.
His citation read, “Being the 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Ogba has played a great role in the development of sports in the country.
“It is on record today that Nigeria is the only country in the world that has won three championships in three different categories of one sport in one year. Even the best footballing nations in the world have not won three categories of international competition in a year.”
AFN Secretary General Olumide Bamiduro, acknowledged the board’s recognition of Ogba’s dominant role in the revival of track and field in Nigeria, as the country’s athletes have triumphed in national and international competitions during his tenure as the helmsman of the AFN.
Bamiduro also noted that Ogba’s exploits in the world of athletics have not gone unnoticed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as he was decorated with the IAAF Veteran Pin at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, where the country’s 14-year medal jinx was broken by Blessing Okagbare who won silver and bronze in the long jump and 200m respectively.
He also commended Ogba’s sponsorship, passion, zeal, commitment and dedication to the sport.
While reacting to the award, the AFN President thanked City People for recognizing him and promised to continue doing his best in order to leave a lasting legacy worthy of emulation.
