Athletics

AFN election: Kola Oredipe promises to add value to athletics in Nigeria

One of the leading candidates seeking to represent South South in the board of Athletics Federation of Nigeria in the upcoming Federation election, Dr. Kola Oredipe has promised to add value to the Track and field governing system in Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists in Abeokuta at the ongoing National Sports Festival, Oredipe, who also doubles as the Vice Chairman of Athletics Association in Bayelsa State noted that his aspiration was borne out of his interest to develop Athletics in Nigeria.

Oredipe, who is the Director-General of New Media to Bayelsa State government and the founder of Samkay Athletics Club where athletes are being discovered and nurtured to stardom said his focus is to unearth more talents that will help Nigeria achieve podium finish at the international level.

He said “We have done a lot through Samkay Athletics Club. We organised a secondary school meet across Bayelsa State, and from those meets, we have 25 athletes who are now under Samkay Athletics Club, and we take them to competitions like National Youth Games, Olympic Trials and some of them are here in the festival- one of them Faith Izechukwu ran in the 4×400 mixed relay as anchor for Bayelsa”

“I am also happy that two of our athletes were also invited as part of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) and one of them is for long jump and one for sprints, made it to Abeokuta for the festival”

A former athlete himself and communication expert, Oredipe, who noted that South South is major hub for Athletics talent in Nigeria said his focus is to raise the bar of Athletics in the zone.

“I have a whole lot to continue to develop Athletics in the South South zone and in Nigeria as a whole- i want to add value to the system and bring a new thing into athletics in Nigeria” he remarked.

He however also sought for the partnership and support of members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in his electoral bid.