Sports
PROF. Carol Arinze-Umeobi, Acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University(NAU), Awka, says the University will institute special prize for best-performing discus throwers at the Nigeria University Games (NUGA).
Arinze-Umeobi disclosed this when she received members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra in her office on Wednesday.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor, who recalled how her performance in the discus event at the National Sports Festival in 1977 opened the floodgates of positive fortunes for her, said she owed her success in life to sports.
She described herself as a passionate lover of sports and would do all she could to support athletes in whatever way.
She said that her sports career started with sprints but later diverted to throws, where she had the advantage.
“So I competed in the women’s category of discus at Kaduna 1977 because I was 20 at that time.
“At that festival, I broke the national record in the discus with 41.18m at that time, a very difficult feat I must say.
“I want to stake the prize for the highest performer in discus during the university sports competitions,” she said.
Arinze-Umeobi appreciated SWAN members in Anambra and commended sports journalists for their positive role in that sector.
She promised to partner with SWAN as she owed her achievement in life through sports to a particular sports journalist who covered her activities at Kada 77.
“I remember, one Aniette Ekong from Cross River, who covered my activities at Kada 77. He was the person who painstakingly wrote a full centre-page newspaper publication of my record at the games.
“That publication gave me a lot of benefits. I travelled to America, Australia and other parts of the world for so many events on invitation, and also got a sports scholarship.
“I do not know where he is now but I would like you people to locate Anniete Ekong for me because whatever I am today, he contributed to it,” she said
Earlier in his remark, Chimezie Anaso, Chairman of SWAN, Anambra congratulated the Acting VC on her appointment and for being the first female to be so appointed in the institution.
He said the VC had not only excelled academically but was also an iconic sports personality, who ruled her world in sports as an undergraduate.
He urged her to use her position to lay the foundation for making NAU the sports hub at the tertiary education level in the Southeast.
“We will be happy that you consider this humble charge as part of your footprints in this university.
“We extend our hands of partnership to NAU in the promotion of sports in the university,” he said. (NAN)
9th October, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Nigeria University Games Nnamdi Azikiwe University PROF. Carol Arinze-Umeobi Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN
