…AS ALADDIN OKEREBI OF AGBIDIAMA EMERGES CHAMPION TO TAKE HOME ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND NAIRA.
Mr Aladdin Okerebi of Agbidiama has emerged winner of Ekeremor Constituency three after beating Mr Alex Lugard of Agge. He went home with a N100,000 cash prize and a gold medal.
Mr Alex Lugard came second and got #70,000 with a Silver medal while Victor Omoro of Agge defeated Mr Passman Timothy of Egbema-Angalabiri, to finish third and got the bronze medal and #50,000 prize money.
This ends the Constituency wrestling matches for Ekeremor and Sagbama LGAs. Attention will now shift to the Local Government Finals in Ekeremor and Sagbama the which holds on the 12th and 13th of January 2022.
The Pa Nanaye Dickson annual wrestling tournament which is sponsored by the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation is a tournament designed to discover hidden talents in traditional Ijaw wrestling amongst the youths of Bayelsa West and help promote and project such talents to the world.
The one going Nanaye Dickson Traditional Wrestling Tournament organized by the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation has reached its final stage in SAGBAMA LGA, as Constituency 3 is all set to have its contests today, December 4th, 2022 at the country home of Senator Henry Seriake Dickson in Toru-Orua by 12noon.
Earlier on Sunday, 2nd of January 2022, Constituency 2 had its day and produced its champions. Coming in the first position was Lucky Contractor from Toru Ebeni Community who grappled with other contestants to take home the Constituency cash prize of N100, 000 donated by the sponsor. In the second position was Ayanka Gideon from Sagbama Community who won a cash price of N70, 000 while Kolo Tamaranpreye from Toru-Ebeni came third with a cash price of N50, 000.
In an interview with our reporter, they expressed their gratitude to God and the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation for providing the opportunity for them to showcase their talents and also win prizes at the tournament. They stated that in the history of traditional Ijaw wrestling tournaments, no one has organized such a far-reaching wrestling competition as what they are presently experiencing. The Local Organising Committee members also commended the sponsor for this initiative that it said promises to produce many future champions as participants have now been talent-spotted from the local communities who have never participated in any national or international competitions.
Today, January 4th is day 3 of the tournament designed to produce champions who will move on to the next round of the annual tournament in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The venue is in Toru Orua, designated for all Sagbama LGA matches at the Country Home of Founder of the HSD Foundation, Former Governor of Bayelsa State and serving Senator, Henry Seriake Dickson.
The Consultant to the Tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe reaffirmed that invited youths for SAGBAMA CONSTITUENCY 3 shall wrestle on the 4TH of JANUARY, at TORU ORUA, SAGBAMA from 12 noon daily.
The Ekeremor LGA Tournament dates for Constituencies 1-3 are scheduled to take place between the 6th and 10th of January, 2022 in Ekeremor Town, Ekeremor LGA.
The statement further said that the Sagbama Local Government Area finals holds on the 12th of January while the Ekeremor Local Government Finals will hold on the 13TH of January, 2022.
Prize money for the tournament will be Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000) for the first prize, while the Second Prize is Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300, 000) and Third Prize is Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000) respectively for each of the top three Champions.
Just as the sponsor has said everybody in this tournament is a champion, One Hundred Thousand Naira will be given as consolation prizes to Seven finalists. Other prizes will be given as follows,
Sagbama & Ekeremor LGA champions will receive Two Hundred Thousand Naira (200, 000).
Six constituency Champions will receive One Hundred Thousand Naira each while Runners up will get Seventy Thousand Naira (N70, 000) and the third position will receive Fifty Thousand Naira each (N50, 000). The statement said logistics shall also be given to all Wrestlers.
The statement said further that, the Nanaye Dickson Traditional Wrestling Tournament is for wrestlers who have not participated in any State, National or International Competitions.
In conclusion, the statement asked all interested wrestlers to contact LOC Chairman; SUOYE LOKOJA on 08030870370 and LOC Secretary; ARE AGBEREKEME on 08030870370 or OWU FINIDI OWU on 08038826931.
The Nanaye Dickson Grassroots Traditional Wrestling Tournament is sponsored by the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation and its aim is to talent spot future national and international wrestling champions.
…As Constituency 2 wrestlers lock horns in Toru Orua
Young , well built and energetic, Harrison Isreal of Ofoni Community overpowered a line up of 31 young and vibrant wrestlers to emerge champion of Constituency 1 and take home the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) cash prize at the annual edition of the Nanaye Dickson Wrestling Tournament.
The tournament flagged off from Toru Orua at an opening ceremony laced with exciting and inspiring music embedded in the rhythmic pattern of Ijaw drum beats , horns and sonorous songs to urge the combatants on. With strained sinews, grappling against each other, youths of SAGBAMA Constituency 1 in Bayelsa State clearly showed why Wrestling is touted as a sport ingenious to the Ijaw people.
The second position went to Bekekala Ebimobowei from Bolou-Orua community and he got a prize money of Seventy Thousand Naira (N70, 000), while the third position went to Bekesuomowei Marine from Bulou-Orua community and he received a cash prize of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50, 000) donated by the sponsor, Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation and presented by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
Also during the New Year Break, January 2nd, battle is currently ongoing in SAGBAMA Constituency 2 with over 30 registered wrestlers lined up to engage each other once again in Toru Orua, venue for all wrestling tournaments in SAGBAMA LGA. It would be the turn of Constituency 3 on the 4th and 5th of January, 2022 at the same venue to complete the Constituency qualifiers.
The LOC according to a press release by the Tournament Consultant, Mr. Ono Akpe, has also decided to hold all the wrestling bouts for the Ekeremor Local Government Area in Ekeremor Town. Thus the matches would hold between the 6th and 10th of January 2022.
The Sagbama Local Government Finals will take place on the 12th of January in Toru Orua, while the Ekeremor Local Government Finals will hold on the 13th of January, 2022 in Ekeremor
Speaking earlier to press men during the opening ceremony in Toru Orua, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, on behalf of his Foundation, thanked the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee Suoye Lokoja and other members of the LOC for the good organization of this grassroots community based Wrestling Tournament.
Senator Dickson earlier noted that, Bayelsa State has more wrestling champions than any State in Nigeria or country in Africa and that this effort of the Foundation will help to talent spot future African Champions and Olympic medalists like Blessing Oborodudu, Victor Kodei, etc.
He said beyond those who won the first, second and third positions, all participants in the tournament today and those who will take place to the end were winners. He said his foundation was more interested in the future of the youthful participants.
He said the Grassroots community based Traditional Wrestling Tournament is in honour of his late father, and an attempt to keep to the legacy of his father, a great wrestler in his time who groomed many young wrestlers, that he is sponsoring this tournament through the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation.
He added that his desire to keep the art of wrestling alive in Ijaw land because it was a land of champions, further inspired him to support the sport more. He added that he has been told by the LOC that they have already spotted many prospective champions at the beginning of the tournament which was quite impressive. Senator Dickson equally gave all participants five thousand naira each as logistics support.
Senator Dickson later led a procession of wrestlers, spectators and other guests to his fathers compound, the final resting place of his late father, Pa Nanaye Dickson amidst drumming and dancing.
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.
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 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
…As Senator Dickson Gifts Her N2Million For Winning Silver Medal At The Tokyo Olympics
By Michael Egiethua
Blessing Oborodudu, the Bayelsa born wrestler who won Nigeria’s only medal at the Tokyo Olympics, a Silver medal, has been presented a check of Two Million Naira (N2, 000, 000) by the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation at an event in Abuja on Tuesday, 14th of December 2021. The award and Presentation were for her role in inspiring our youths and girls as a Living Legend.
Speaking to the publisher of Crossfire Reports after the ceremony, Blessing Oborodudu said that in the 2014 Glasgow Games (Commonwealth Games), then Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson was the first Governor to visit the athletes in Camp.
She, along with other Wrestling Living Legends and Icons of Ijaw extraction was honoured by the Henry Seriake Dickson (HSD) Foundation in recognition of their outstanding performance over the years.
Oborodudu described Senator Dickson as a unique man in the sense that, in 2014, at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he was the first Governor to visit the Nigerian Wrestling Team. She said he did not stop at that, but that he was also the first Governor to receive the Nigeria Wrestling Team in 2018 after the Commonwealth Games and that he gave generous cash donations to the athletes.
Oborodudu said she was not surprised at Senator Dickson’s donation today as he has been consistent with his love and support for sports development, but that, what surprised her was the amount involved, Two Million Naira (N2, 000, 000) which she was gifted by the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation.
She noted that there are many dignitaries in Bayelsa State that can do this kind of gifting but that because of Dickson’s unique nature, he is indeed the first to make such a generous donation by publicly honouring her and her coach and also went as far as inviting a good number of wrestlers from Bayelsa State to Abuja for the recognition and award as Living Legends and Icons of Traditional Ijaw Wrestling.
She thanked and appreciated Senator Dickson for his love and promotion of wrestling in Bayelsa State and Nigeria. She said with the Nanaye Dickson Wrestling Tournament, she was sure that it will produce younger Wrestlers who will take over from her and others and that they will bring bigger honours to Bayelsa State and Nigeria. It was her prayer that the younger athletes will surpass her performance and go to the Olympics to win Gold medals for Nigeria.
She thanked Senator Dickson and the Henry Seriake Dickson (HSD) Foundation, his family members, the Honourable Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, Senator Obinna Ogba, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Royal Father of the Day, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, representative of the President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation and Vice President of the Federation, Mr. Christopher Amkpila as well as her coaches and all others who made the occasion a truly special one.
She advised Nigerian and Bayelsa youths in regards to sports excellence to maintain their focus always and never give up on their dreams. She also advised the youths in athletics to always train and never miss their training sessions no matter what the circumstances may be. She said it was her consistent training that paved the way for her performance at the Tokyo Olympics and other competitions she has excelled in.
She promised the HSD Foundation, the Minister of Sports and Nigerians in general that she will work harder to win Gold at the next Olympics once her knee was fixed. The Minister of Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, had earlier in his address requested that Oborodudu hand over her medical care and treatment to the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development to enable the ministry to do the needful to make her get the required surgery.
The Minister for Sports and youth development called on all the 109 Senators in the National Assembly to sponsor a sport in their constituencies to start discovering new talents just like Senator Henry Seriake Dickson is doing.
In his remarks, the first Military Governor of Rivers State and Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Diete-Spiff congratulated Senator Seriake Dickson for his love for sporting activities in Bayelsa State.
He urged the winners to go into grassroots sports to discover new talents.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the occasion and Chairman Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development, Senator Obinna Ogba commended Senator Dickson for promoting Grassroots sport.
“I am not surprised at Senator Dickson’s initiative. When you invest in sport, you invest in yourself. I will continue to support you. You supported me on the bill of the establishment of the University of Sport.
“It will help Nigerians to develop their talents. There will be no dropout in Nigeria again. Nigerians youths will continue to be proud of you Senator Seriake Dickson, Senator Obinna Ogba said.
The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali represented by his Vice President said the Seriake Dickson Foundation initiative is not new to the Nigeria Wrestling Federation.
He thanked Sen. Dickson for his support towards wrestling development in Nigeria and pledged the Federation’s support to the Nanaye Dickson Traditional Wrestling Competition.
In her vote of thanks, the daughter of Senator Dickson who spoke on behalf of the family, Helen Dickson thanked all for their time and devotions. She also thanked her father for the massive support towards grassroots sport in Bayelsa State.
The Nanaye Dickson Traditional Wrestling Competition is meant to engage youths of Bayelsa in an attempt to promote grassroots Ijaw Traditional Wrestling culture, as well as to serve as a talent hunt for the youths of the State.
The Nanaye Dickson Traditional Wrestling Tournament, which is an annual event, is in honour of Senator Dickson’s late father, a community leader and great wrestler of his time.
Senator Henry Seriake Dickson as Governor supported and revamped sports in Bayelsa state and the Nanaye Dickson wrestling competition is simply a continuation of the promotion of the sector by the Henry Seriake Dickson foundation.
The Foundation is currently running a football tournament in the Sagbama-Ekeremor Senatorial district and will now officially kick off the wrestling competition this Saturday.
