Sports
Wike: Relaunching Rivers Potentials In Sports
Barely 100 days in of
fice as governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has made giant strides in sports sector which clearly set his administration out as one truly committed to the development and promotion of the sector.
Indeed the administration is relaunching the state to the frontline of comity of leading sports friendly states and destination of choice for sporting events and competitions.
Even before he was sworn in as the Executive Governor, Chief Wike demonstrated his interest in sports by making football one of the activities that marked his pre-inauguration ceremonies.
That day, Chief Wike led a number of football stars, both ex-and current internationals to entertain the people with a display of exhilarating football at the Sharks FC Stadium in Port Harcourt. That was an indication and a promise that sports would not take back seat in the nascent administration.
In fact, during his early speeches, the Governor underlined grassroots sports development, especially, going back to schools sports, reviving and promoting competitions at the grassroots level as a key policy towards engaging and empowering the youths.
About 100 days on, Rivers State, particularly Port Harcourt has become central and focus of sports discuss, especially football in Nigeria.
In demonstration of his conviction that athletes deserve motivation and remuneration, players of Rivers State clubs, Sharks, Dolphins and Rivers Angels FCs, who were hitherto owed eight months backlog of salaries were the first to smile as the governor effected their payment.
At a time the Nigeria football Federation, NFF was in a quandary concerning a venue to host the Nigeria’s under 23 football teams qualifying match for the pre-Rio 2016 Olympic Games and states under the yoke of financial crisis were avoiding such burden, Governor Wike stepped into rescue the federation.
He, not only presented the state as a host, his motivation played pivotal roles in ensuring victory and paving way for the team’s qualification for the African Olympic qualifying tournament.
Since then, Port Harcourt has become a home for National teams as Super Eagles’ matchless and other national teams have been billed for the imposing Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium, at least Super Eagles next three matches beginning with their international friendly with Niger Republic tomorrow will be played at the stadium.
Only yesterday, the state, for the first time in history hosted a competitive grade A international match between two countries when Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast clashed in a 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier in Port Harcourt. The state had offered to assist the NFF bail out Sierra Leone who could not host international matches at homes.
These plethora of international matches have gone a long way to re-establish and proof that peace and safety have returned to Rivers State which have further boosted tourism and investment opportunities in the state.
Governor Wike in further demonstration of his wholesome positive disposition towards the sports sector has extended hand of fellowship to the sports writing family in Nigeria who he assured of partnering for effective sports development in the state and Nigeria.
Rivers State a couple of weeks ago hosted the National Full Council Meeting, the highest decision making body of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, which has been adjudged to be the best of its kind in the association history.
Assessing the performance of the Governor in a little over three months now, chairman of Rivers State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Mr Honour Sirawoo scored him a nine on scale of 10. According to him, “The Governor has done well for the sports sector. He started well by offsetting the debt owed the state clubs for over eight months. His willingness to host international matches at a time other states are running away is an indication that sports is dear to him. We hope he continues to remain in the path of sports development and give the state the fillip to rediscover their elements and once again play leading role in sporting events and competitions in Nigeria.
For the Director of sports in Rivers State, Sir Daobu Harry, the Sports Council is hopeful that things can only get better as they pray that the Governor does not deviate from the commitment to sports which he has shown so early in his administration.
According to the Director, “The Governor has done well. It takes a big heart and courage to do what he has done so far in prevailing circumstances. The sports sector has gotten new lease of life since his coming into office. Apart from relaunching the state to international spotlight, sports association in the state have begun to attend national competitions, we hope that it continues to get better.”
Governor Nyesom Wike (middle), with Sole Administrator, RIWAMA, Bro Felix Obuah (right) and NFF officials, during the match between Nigeria and Congo in Port Harcourt Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken
The 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist spoke to Tidesports source her desire to defend her para singles title in the women’s category and to also secure a qualification berth for both the regional West Africa para table tennis event in Abeokuta in September and the continental championship billed to hold in Cairo, Egypt in November.
The multiple Paralympian said, “My expectation is to come out great at this wonderful tournament and to qualify for the forthcoming tournament that is coming up in Nigeria and Egypt in September and November. Last tournament, I won the singles. I won three golds at the last ValueJet tournament. And I want to believe and hope that I will maintain my position by coming in first position.”
Ugwueke had featured in the para event at the 56th Molade Okoya-Thomas National Table Tennis Championships, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in January, where she suffered a stunning defeat to eventual finalist and tournament runner-up Taiye Oyinloye, who in turn was beaten 3-1 (11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9) by Commonwealth Games medallist, Kate Oputa, to become the women’s class 1-5 champion.
The ValueJet Lagos Para table tennis Open, which is in its seventh edition, is an event sanctioned by the governing body ITTF Africa and put together by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation in partnership with Lagos State Sports Commission.
The event will come to a close on July 11, with the competition serving as qualifiers for the country’s players for the regional tournament in Abeokuta.
A total of 98 athletes—57 men and 41 women—from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo are competing in the singles events.
Notable performances have come from Alabi, Agunbiade, Ogunkunle, and Commonwealth Games medallists Kate Oputa and Faith Obazuaye, who have showcased their class against emerging talents across various classifications.
Their presence has intensified the battle for podium finishes, with top seeds asserting dominance in their respective singles events.
The AIU announced in the June 2025 sanctions list on July 1 that 21-year-old quarter-miler Uko was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation committed on June 5 2024. Her infraction falls under whereabouts failures, having missed three tests within a 12-month period.
The AIU confirmed that her period of ineligibility will run until 23 July 2026 and all results recorded from the date of the infraction have been officially disqualified.
Uko rose to fame after clinching three gold medals at the 2021 World U-20 Championships in Nairobi, winning the women’s 400 metres, 4x400m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay.
Stephen Eloji (June 2028)
Sprinter and hurdler Stephen Eloji tested positive for dehydrochloromethyl-
The 25-year-old was active in the American collegiate circuit, recording strong performances in the 110m hurdles and relay events as recently as April 2024, including at the Pepsi Florida Relays and Music City Challenge.
Ada Princess Bright (September 2027)
Ada Princess Bright is serving a four-year ineligibility period after testing positive for Metenolone during the National Athletics Trials held on July 6 2023 in Benin City.
She had an active season prior to her suspension, competing in national meets in Lagos, Uyo, and Benin, and earning a relay gold at the African U20 Championships in Ndola, Zambia.
Grace Nwokocha (August 2025)
Nwokocha is serving a three-year ban after testing positive for SARMS substances including Ostarine and Ligandrol during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The fallout was significant, as Nigeria was stripped of its women’s 4x100m relay gold medal at the Games. Prior to her suspension, she had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, posted a personal best of 11.00s in the 100m, and reached the semi-finals in the 100m and 200m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. She is ineligible to compete until 2 August 2025.
Yinka Ajayi (January 2030)
Ajayi, a 400m specialist and one-time Olympic representative, is currently serving an extended eight-year ban for multiple anti-doping violations.
The first sanction, issued after she tested positive for Metenolone in an out-of-competition test in Iowa, USA, led to a four-year ban starting in December 2021. However, further findings of tampering led to an additional four-year penalty in 2024, extending her suspension until January 25 2030.
Glory Okon (January 2026)
Glory Okon is serving a four-year ban for testing positive for Metenolone following an out-of-competition test conducted on December 2 2021 in Nigeria.
She previously won gold in the 400 metres at the 2019 African U-20 Championships in Abidjan and featured prominently at the 2021 National Sports Festival in Benin City.
Blessing Okagbare (July 2031)
Once the face of Nigerian athletics, Okagbare is now serving a 10-year ban following multiple anti-doping rule violations. She tested positive for human growth hormone and EPO in an out-of-competition test in June 2021.
Her suspension came while competing at the Tokyo Olympics and was announced in February 2022. It was later extended by an additional year in June 2022 due to further breaches.
Divine Oduduru (February 2029)
Oduduru’s career was derailed by anti-doping violations linked to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. On October 12 2023, a Disciplinary Tribunal of the AIU imposed a six-year ban on Oduduru after he was found guilty of possessing and attempting to use prohibited substances and methods. The case stemmed from the wider investigation into Eric Lira, the first individual convicted under the US Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, who supplied banned substances to athletes, including Okagbare, ahead of the Tokyo Games.
Oduduru’s ban is effective from February 9, 2023 and will run until February 8, 2029.
Henry Azike (Lifetime ban)
Azike is one of two Nigerian athletes currently serving a lifetime ban after testing positive for Metenolone, an anabolic steroid. His case was classified as a second ADRV, automatically triggering a lifetime suspension from the sport.
Azike last competed in 2011, including at the Doha Amir Cup and Nigerian Championships in Calabar.
Vivian Chukwuemeka (Lifetime ban)
Two-time Olympian and African shot put record holder Vivian Chukwuemeka is serving a lifetime ban for a second doping offence after testing positive for Stanozolol at the 2012 National Championships in Calabar.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games champion and multiple-time African gold medallist had previously served a two-year ban following a 2009 positive test. Her personal best of 18.43m remains the African record in women’s shot put.
Invited players into the Super Eagles B camp ahead of the rescheduled African Nations Championship tournament are feeling the pressure of selection, three days into their training camp at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The eighth CHAN tournament is taking place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda between August 2 to 20.
Ahead of the tournament, head coach Eric Chelle had invited an initial 35 players to camp and they began training on Monday with 21 players.
Five more players arrived on Tuesday to take the number to 26 while 28 players trained on Wednesday morning with the rest expected before the end of the week.
Captain of the team through the qualifiers, Junior Nduka, spoke about the intensity of the sessions and the jostle to make the final squad.
“Everybody is under pressure but definitely the coaches want the best among the 35 players,” Nduka said.
River United and former Flying Eagles forward, Aniekeme Okon, also admitted the pressure.
“It puts pressure on us, 35 players being invited, everybody is going to give out their best with an expectation of being selected. So we keep pushing.”
Ikorodu City defender, Leonard Ngenge also said, “Obviously, it puts everyone under pressure even myself. But I just need to do my best to be on the coaches’ radar.”
Nigeria, the 2018 runners-up, are in group D of the 19-team tournament, alongside Cup holders Senegal, Sudan and Congo.
The Super Eagles B will play their first two matches of the competition, against Senegal and Sudan, at the Amman Stadium on the island of Zanzibar, before taking on Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Nigeria has never won the tournament, having finished third at the 2014 edition in South Africa before losing the final against hosts Morocco four years later.