The LOC invites youths from Sagbama and Ekeremor LGA to the ANNUAL NANAYE DICKSON Wrestling Tournament @ Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA & Ekeremor town, Ekeremor LGA on;
SAGBAMA LOCAL GOVT FINALS:
12TH OF JANUARY
&
EKEREMOR LOCAL GOVT FINALS:
13TH JANUARY
1ST PRIZE: N500k
2ND PRIZE; N300k
&
3RD PRIZE; N200K
N100k consolation prize for 7 wrestlers
Logistics shall be given to all Wrestlers.
This tournament is for wrestlers who have not participated in State, National or International Competitions.
FOR PARTICIPATION:
LOC Chairman; Suoye Lokoja;
08030870370.
Secretary; Are Agberekeme; 08030870370.
&
Finidi O. 08038826931.
Former governor of Bayelsa State and serving Senator, Henry Seriake Dickson today in Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa, received executive committee members of the Community based Cooperative organisations for women and youths of Bayelsa West Senatorial District.
Over 250 grassroots community-based Cooperative Youths and Women groups represented by their Executive council members, came to introduce themselves and present their registration certificates to Senator Seriake Dickson, in the company of his wife, Dr Mrs Rachel Dickson at their country home in Toru Orua, Sagbame LGA of Bayelsa State on Thursday, 30th of December, 2021.
In his response at the presentation ceremony, Senator Dickson thanked the women for forming themselves into cooperatives and advised them to key into any empowerment program of Bayelsa State or the federal government.
Senator Dickson stated further that, on his part, he was also going to support them in any way possible and that putting themselves into cooperatives would make it easier for them to get empowered. He said when they are in cooperatives, it is easier for them to interact with him and it is also possible for them to do peer reviews and reinforce one another.
Senator Dickson said, for example, the Cassava Processing Factory in Ebedebiri he built and finished, that he understands the state government is planning to commission it. He noted that when commissioned they will need a lot of people to go into Cassava production as out-growers. He said he wanted the cooperative groups to be ready to partner with the factory in that regard. He said that on his part, he is also going to try his best to lead them and support them in any way possible. He promised to continue to provide Entrepreneurship Training programs, empowerment and other support services for members of the cooperatives.
On their part, the Cooperative Women and Youths groups, thanked Senator Dickson, for the various empowerment programs that he has done both as a governor and now as a Senator representing Bayelsa West in the Senate.
Represented by Madam Lilian Okus and Jeff Amasomo, they promised to key into all programmes of Government at both federal and state levels. They assured Senator Dickson that they would ensure judicious management and use of all resources they receive.
The Cooperative Society is coordinated by the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation.
Following the conclusion of the Senator Seriake Dickson Football Tournament known as the Ofurumapepe Cup, another sporting event is set to commence at the same Senatorial District, Bayelsa West.
The Organising Committee of the Nanaye Dickson Wrestling Tournament, says all is set for the tourney to commence, as the Bayelsa West Senatorial District will be agog from tomorrow to the second week of next year.
Recall the Youth and Sports Development Minister, Mr Sunday Dare, a few weeks ago, had unveiled the tournament, in Abuja, in the presence of other stakeholders in the sector including the Senate Committee Chairman on Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba, Vice President Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Federation Christopher Amkpila amongst others, where he commended Senator Dickson for his support for sports development in the country.
This is as it has thrown an open invitation to interested youths from Sagbama and Ekeremor Council Areas, to be available for participation at the tourney.
A statement signed by the Technical Consultant of the tournament, Mr Ono Akpe, said the opening ceremony will take place at Sagbama Constituency 1, on the 30th and 31st of December, 2021, then 2nd and 3rd of January, 2022 for Sagbama Constituency 2, while that of Constituency 3, is on the 4th and 5th of January.
Commencement Dates for Ekeremor Council Area, are 6th and 7th for Constituency 1, 8th and 9th for Constituency 2, and 10th and 11th for Constituency 3, while the finals for Sagbama LGA is on the 12th, and the finals for Ekeremor LGA is on the 13th.
According to the statement, the winner of the competition will receive a cash reward of five hundred thousand naira, the first runner up, three hundred thousand naira, and second runner up wins two hundred thousand naira, with seven qualifying wrestlers going home with one hundred thousand naira each.
The statement equally added that the LG champions from Sagbama and Ekeremor shall receive two hundred thousand naira each, six constituency champions shall take home one hundred thousand naira each, runners up will win seventy thousand naira, while second runner up, fifty thousand naira each.
Mr Akpe stressed that the tournament is designed specifically to discover hidden talents from the communities, and warned that only wrestlers who have not participated in any state, national or international competition are eligible.
The immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State and the Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has called on the international oil companies in the Niger Delta and other corporate bodies to support sports development in Bayelsa.
Dickson spoke during the final of the Ofuruma Pepe Cup sponsored by his foundation, the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation, at the Sagbama headquarters of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
He stressed that it was indeed critical for the IOCs and the corporate bodies to take deliberate steps to support Sports development as it cannot be left in the hands of the state government alone.
Dickson who called on all to join hands in sports development said Bayelsa was a state of champions which was number one in wrestling in Nigeria and Africa.
The just-concluded community-based grassroots football competition, which involved 100 teams and 1000 young boys were designed to enable the HSD Foundation to talent spot young footballers.
Senator Dickson said, “We will not be getting it right if we leave sports development for the state government alone. I hereby use the opportunity to call on well-meaning members of Bayelsa State as well as corporate citizens to help in picking one area of sports development to help the State government.”
Senator Dickson said that the Ofurumapepe Cup tournament, one of the initiatives of his foundation, was launched before he left office.
The former Governor said he was passionate about Sports Development, Education and the promotion of the Ijaw Culture as part of his modest contributions to societal development.
Dickson thanked the state Governor, Senator Douye Diri, the Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Moses Cleopas, political office holders, traditional rulers and other dignitaries for attending the occasion.
The Senator also recalled that a few weeks ago, his Foundation also unveiled the Nanaye Dickson Wrestling Classics, noting that Bayelsa State had more wrestling champions than most countries put together.
He said the Seriake Dickson Foundation was supporting the Bayelsa Government to talent spot young Bayelsan Wrestlers who will take over from the current wrestling Champions.
He added that the HSD Foundation would declare open the Nanaye Dickson Wrestling Tournament on the 30th of December, 2021.
“These tournaments are to give our youths the opportunity to engage themselves meaningfully. Naturally, we are very concerned about the alarming rate of cultism and drug abuse, among our youths, and it is the plan of the Foundation to work hard to ensure that the youths are better than our own generation. The main aim is to enable the youths to engage themselves meaningfully.” He added.
The former Governor also announced his intention to launch a football club in the next couple of weeks or months to be known as the Ofurumapepe Club.
Also speaking, the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, thanked Senator Dickson for sponsoring such a competition at this economically trying period to engage the youths, particularly during the Yuletide. He congratulated Senator Dickson for the thoughtfulness in engaging young boys.
He said there had been no such competition in the state-sponsored by any member of Parliament at the national level. He said Dickson was the first to do it and hoped that Senator Cleopas who was watching would do the same for the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District.
The final match of the game was played in Sagbama on Thursday, between the Torugbene 2 FC of Ekeremor LGA and Odoni FC of Sagbama LGA which the latter won with a lone goal.
The Local Organising Committee invites interested able-bodied youths from Sagbama and Ekeremor LGA to the Annual Nanaye Dickson Wrestling Tournament holding at Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA on the following dates;
THE WINNER OF THIS TOURNAMENT SHALL GO HOME WITH A WHOPPING N500k Cash !!!
2nd Prize: N300k
and
3rd prize; N200K cash
100k consolation prize shall also be won by 7 qualifying wrestlers
Equally, Sagbama and Ekeremor CHAMPIONS shall receive a N200k cash prize each
SIX CONSTITUENCY CHAMPION shall take home N100k each, RUNNERS-UP; N70k and 3rd place; N50K each.
This tournament is designed specifically to discover hidden talents in our communities therefore ONLY wrestlers who have not participated in any State, National or International Competition are eligible.
FOR REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION…Please call the following ;
Chairman LOC Suoye Lokoja;
08030870370.
SECRETARY;
Are Agberekeme; 08030870370.
OR
Owu Finidi Owu 08038826931.
This Tournament is an initiative of The Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation
His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, this evening graced the finals of the maiden edition of the football tournament sponsored by Senator representing Bayelsa West and former Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.
The tournament tagged,” Ofurumapepe cup is for all communities in Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas.
Odoni community lifted the cup after a one-nil victory over Toru-gbene community.
Gov. Diri, who was the Special Guest of Honour, at the finals held at the Sagbama town football pitch, commended Senator Dickson for the tournament aimed at discovering young talents for a rewarding footballing career.
Gov. Diri advised other members of the National Assembly from the State to replicate this competition in their various constituencies.
“I want to thank Your Excellency, the Senator for trying at this very rough economic times to come up with a competition to engage our youth and particularly, in this season of Yuletide.
Let me use this opportunity to call on our representatives at the National level to replicate what His Excellency, the distinguished Senator is doing in Bayelsa West Senatorial District, and we believe that this is the only way to bring our Youths to the line of discovering themselves. I’m very sure that at the end of this competition, we will discover some new talents again.
So, let me on behalf of your Government and the good people of the state, say a very big thank you to you, and congratulations
and appreciations for the thoughtfulness of engaging our Boys in this times.”
Odoni FC of Sagbama LGA has won the 2021 edition of the Ofurumapepe Cup by a lone goal scored by Benatare Bob.
They will go home with N2,000,000 courtesy of Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation and the Bayelsa State government who announced the addition of 500k.
2nd place goes home with 1,300,000, courtesy of the HSD Foundation 800k and the Bayelsa State Government 500k.
Senator Henry Seriake Dickson in his remarks called on IOC’s, Corporate bodies others to support Bayelsa government in sports development as Odoni Community Sagbama LGA beat Toruogbene 2 Community of Ekeremor by a lone goal to win the maiden edition of the ofurumapepe cup sponsored and organised by the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Bayelsa Chapter, on boxing Day, presented an Award of Excellence, to His Excellency, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, for his contributions towards Sports Development in Bayelsa State.
Senator Dickson displaying the award plaque he received on the 26th of December from the Bayelsa State Chapter of SWAN
Chairman Bayelsa SWAN, Comrade Alambo Datonye, while presenting the award to the former Governor, eulogised him for initiating and completing all projects executed in the subsector, during his reign as Governor of the state.
Comrade Datonye stressed that the Bayelsa sports writer’s association would continue to throw its weight behind Dickson’s programs, especially the soon to be concluded Ofurumapepe Cup, and the forthcoming Nanaye Dickson Traditional Wrestling Competition, just as he expressed hope that the award will spur him to contribute more to Sports Development.
Bayelsa State SWAN Chairman made his remarks before the presentation
Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, while receiving the award, appreciated SWAN, for supporting his sporting activities, urging the association not to relent in their profession.
According to the Senator, sports remains a tool for promoting unity and togetherness, and also a panacea for grooming young talents, some of who will emerge professionals in the nearest future, urging well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to team up with the government in developing the sector.
In his words, “Sports Development is key, it promotes tourism, it’s for healthy living and lifestyle, youth engagement, and cuts across all aspects of life”.
“So I call on the Federal Government, to partner with the Bayelsa Government in transforming the Asoama Sports Academy, after the Memorandum of Understanding we signed with the Sports Minister. That Academy is meant to export talents, and I am proud of the work I and my team did there. I also call on private individuals, corporate bodies to support sports. They can pick any of the sports and sponsor it, everything about sports and maintenance of its facilities cannot be left for government alone.”
Former Permanent Secretary Government House, Yenagoa, former Commissioner for Education, Jonathan Obiobite and former Sagbama LGA Chairman all under former Governor Dickson of Bayelsa State were also present to grace the occasion
The immediate past Governor dedicated the award to his team who worked with him to deliver his mandate, as he announced his readiness to set up a football club, to be known as Ofurumapepe Football Club.
Senator Dickson equally extended his appreciation to media houses and pressmen for their cooperation with his administration during his tenure, assuring that as a Senator he will unveil more programs in Sports, Education and Culture in the near future.
The Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation shall continue to support various activities in sports, education, health care, culture and tourism he concluded.
Senator Dickson displaying his Bayelsa SWAN Award Plaque
SPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS OF SENATOR HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON:
In presenting the award to Senator Dickson, SWAN, Bayelsa State Chapter said, in their sector of coverage, which is sports, there is no doubt, that Dickson has left a remarkable legacy, that will be remembered for many years.
Therefore, they were delighted that the projects he conceived and executed in the sports sector, were completed and that goes to show his love for the sector. The projects were listed as follows; Renovated Samson Siasia Ultra-Modern Stadium, World Class Golf Course, Polo Centre, the Sports Academy, Asoama, Nembe City Stadium. Others are, Initiating And Sponsoring three Editions of the Governor’s Cup (Restoration Cup), the Restoration Boys, the Youth Team, Coming 3rd in the African Youth Cup In Cape Verde, Hosting The National Wrestling Classics (Now An Annual Event In The Wrestling Calander Of Bayelsa State) and adopted by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
SWAN further listed reasons for the award as the former governor Dickson’s support of the National Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Team that excelled in International Tournaments, Massively improved results at the National Sports Festival, hosting of the Female Aiteo Cup Finals (Which Has Been Regarded As The Best Ever By Football Pundits), fulfilment of his promise by sponsoring the Senator Dickson Football Tournament for Bayelsa West Senatorial District, being serially victorious as Milo Basketball Champions (5 Times Milo National Schools Female Basketball Championship, Saint Judes Girls Model Secondary School, Amarata).
SWAN Exco, Bayelsa Chapter members at the event
Senator Dickson’s honouring of Sports Men and Women including Olympian, Blessing Oborodudu and her Coach And National Coach, African and Commonwealth Wrestling Champion, Victor Kodei Amongst Others.
Further reasons for the award were, Dickson’s continued hosting of the Annual Nanaye Dickson Wrestling Tournament, Promotion Of Ijaw Traditional Wrestling to National and International Recognition. Etc.
Senator Dickson flanked on both sides by Bayelsa State Executive members of the state SWAN including Technical Consultant of the Ofurumapepe Cup, Mr Ono Akpe
In conclusion, SWAN Bayelsa said it was with great joy and pride, that the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Bayelsa Chapter on behalf of the youths of Bayelsa State, sports lovers and enthusiasts along with other stakeholders in Bayelsa State and beyond presents an award to one of the most celebrated leaders of Ijaw extraction, and indeed the Niger Delta region, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
The final match of the Ofurumapepe Cup comes up tomorrow, 28th of December, 2021 at the Sagbama Local Government Stadium while the Nanaye Dickson Wrestling Tournament will start on Thursday, 30th of December, 2021.
