By Magnus Emuji
Secretary To Delta State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah has lauded the aspiring Okpanam Youth President, Comrade Lucky Okolo, for his several innovations aimed at uniting the youths especially for initiating and sponsoring the maiden edition of Okpanam Female Football Competition.
Chief Ukah made the commendation in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state during the grand finale of Okpanam Female Youths 5- Aside Football Competition for the four quarters of the community sponsored by Comrade Okolo.
The SSG, who urged the people to love one another in order to continue to attract meaningful development of the community, disclosed that the usual inter-quarters football competition would begin during the 2022 easter celebration even as he gifted the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand naira for the winner of the competition, one hundred thousand naira for the second position and fifty thousand naira for the third position respectively.
In his welcome address, the sponsor of the competition and a frontline aspirant for Okpanam youths President, Comrade Lucky Okolo explained that the purpose of the 5 – Aside female Football Competition was aimed at providing structural development to young talents in Okpanam adding that the competition had strengthened more unity among youths in the community.
He said that the 5- Aside female youth competition was a football-based version of mini football where each team fielded five players in a smaller pitch in order to reduce the game duration.
The Okpanam youths Presidential hopeful, who disclosed that many players that participated in the tournament would be honoured for their achievements, appreciated the SSG, Chief Patrick Ukah, the traditional ruler of the community, HRM Dr Michael Ogbolu and the Omu Anioma, HRH Dr Matha Dunkwu and other well-meaning individuals for their support.
Comrade Okolo, however, pledged his avowed commitments towards the upliftment of the Okpanam community and the youths, in particular, adding that football played a pivotal role in nation-building.
Earlier, the Ugoani of Okpanam kingdom, HRM Dr Michael Ogbolu, who commended the initiative of the sponsor of the competition described football as a great tool in public relations.
He said that Comrade Lucky Okolo had sufficiently qualified to contest as Okpanam youths President, stressing that he has the wherewithal to take the community to a greater height.
The Omu Anioma, HRH Dr Matha Dunkwu stated that Comrade Lucky Okolo was a dependable and reliable asset to the community, adding that the sponsor of the competition had continued to display the expected commitments to take over the leadership of Okpanam youths.
She said that the community was blessed with a lot of human resources who had impacted positively not only in the community, the state but the nation at large even as she recognised the legendary roles of late Major Kaduna Nzeogwu and Nigeria’ foremost journalist, late Chief Chris Okolie towards changing the narratives in the country.
At the end of the final match, Obodogba quarter defeated Amachai quarter by three goals to zero to emerge champions while Obodogwugwu walloped Ugunadagbe five goals to zero to take the third position.
