THE Mascot of the up-coming Governor Dickson Unity Cup codenamed the Ogbia Challenge was on Thursday, February 22, unveiled with a call on every stakeholder to deploy sport as a tool to promote unity and peace in the Ogbia kingdom.

Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the state commissioner for Information, made the call while welcoming dignitaries to the mascot unveiling ceremony at the Amphitheatre of the Information House, Yenagoa, capital of the state.

According to him, unity remained a catalyst for communal growth and development, insisting that every Ogbia person must avoid divisive tendency and work together in the spirit of oneness as practiced by the forebears of the Ogbia nation.

The football fiesta, he said, would also hunt for talents to be promoted at the big stage in football while discussions are on with scouts to assist at picking the best of talents, who when groomed, could play in big league abroad and contest for national jersey.

He said the Ogbia Challenge also had the capacity of diverting the youth from vices and crimes, saying that young people must embrace sports as a career.

While unveiling the mascot, Charles Owaba, the Obanoban of Ogbia, urged the Ogbia people to embrace one another as a member of one big family in order to promote individual’s well-being and communal development.

The paramount ruler, represented at the event by Johnny Johnny, commended Markson for seeking the good of Ogbia at all time.

The Obanoban said those who seek the good of the land would prosper and urged Ogbia elites to emulate the Information commissioner’s gesture in order to secure a good future for the Ogbia youth.

Other dignitaries including the Commissioners for Chieftaincy and Community Development, Chief Saviour Ibegi, Special Projects, Fred Obua and Energy Chief Partner Ogbolo as well as the Director General Bayelsa State Investment Agency, Patience Abah and Ogbia Local Government Chairman, Mrs. Naomi Ogoli casted their voices to the call for unity and support for the Governor Dickson Unity Cup.

Speaking in the same vein, Okiriyan, the Restoration Ogbia Caucus Leader, described Daniel Iworiso-Markson as a genuine Ogbia man who love the Ogbia people.

Okiriyan said the innovative performance of Iworiso-Markson had marked him out as a young man with a bright future whose vision for unity is a buy-in for the Ogbia people. Meanwhile, the Governor Dickson Unity Cup Organising Committee has published the fixtures for the tournament.

Thirty-two teams from across various communities in Ogbia will participate at four centres namely Opume, Kolo, Otuokpoti and Imiringi.  The tournament will kick-off on Monday.

– Feb.  23, 2018 @ 17:58 GMT |