Acheru And Sports Dev In Nigeria

It is not in contention that to develop a country is not the sole responsibility of the government.Often times, government calls for Private Public Partnership (PPP) to execute a particular project or programme.
You will also agree with me that to develop a given sector does not only depend on the sophisticated facilities provided but equally  requires a thorough breed professionals that have the capacity to train competent manpower to complement  the developmental plan in that particular sector.
Thus, in the area of sports development, sports are key because sports writing is a highly professional and skilled job which conventional journalists cannot effectively do. The professional sports writers are almost as good as the coach in a given sport  because they have in-depth knowledge of the game.
This is so because constructive criticism and analysis during and after the game has grossly contributed towards the development of sports. The mistakes spotted out by  sports writers often assist the coaches and athletes to correct their errors.
In Nigeria , China Acheru popularly  known as “IKWERREMAN”, born  into  the family of Mr and Mrs Acheru in Ogbakiri  community in Emohua Local Government Area,  Rivers State, is one of the  best  professional sports  presenters Nigeria has ever produced who  has developed sports  in all ramifications.
Acheru attended University of Port Harcourt Demonstration Secondary School, Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. It is incredible that he read Geology, in University of Port Harcourt, but his desire to be a journalist was intense. Shortly after his graduation, he worked as a sports reporter for the then South South Express newspaper under the tutelage of late Mazi Njoku.
Apart from that, Acheru has been a strong voice of sports from Rivers State and   Nigeria for the past 25 years. Within these years of sports reporting and development, he worked for CTL Cable TV in 2002, in the same year November, he joined Silverbird Rhythm 93.7 FM as sports reporter and producer. In 2006, he left the State and joined Goal Newspaper in Lagos, one of the leading sports papers then in Nigeria, as sub editor, later he moved to kickoffnigeria.com as a senior journalist.
As he returned home, he joined Cool/Wazobia FM in 2010 as Head of Sports, later left for Today FM in 2013. It will interest you to know that Acheru runs one of the Nigeria’s biggest football blogs. Besides, he was the media manager of Dolphins Football Club of Port Harcourt for 12 years and currently the chairman of Nigeria Professional League Clubs Media Managers’ Association. Before then, he had been the financial secretary of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Rivers State chapter.
What makes him more unique is that he does not only present sports programmes but also writes sports effectively and efficiently. In addition, he has also trained many professional sports presenters and writers in Nigeria.
According to one of the celebrated sports journalists in Nigeria, Arafat Aliu, Acheru is a professional to the core, he never jokes with his job.
“When he was the media officer of the Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt, he was always handy to give you the correct report with regard to the team. He never shied away from interviews and was ready to clarify any issue”, Aliu said.
He equally described Acheru as one of the finest broadcast journalists that has been able to combine well in print and broadcasting.
“Having worked with him at Rythm 93.7, Port Harcourt, I can say that he is always ready to beat deadlines. Besides, he is a Liverpool fan that never wants to work alone.
I dare say that he counts as one of Nigeria’s finest broadcast journalists that have been able to combine well in print and broadcasting”, he stated.
One of Nigeria’s best broadcast journalists in Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) based in Abuja, Tamara Ebiowei, also described China Acheru as a good trainer that has groomed many sports journalists in the country.
She explains that Acheru is always willing to teach and by teaching, he is developing the human capacity which in turn develops the sports.
“China is a jovial person who can be described as one of the best in sports journalism. His willingness to correct one’s errors amazes me, a testimony of so many he has groomed in the sports journalism profession, Ebiowei said
According to her, outside the job he exhibits the best interpersonal relationships with his colleagues and others, besides, he is transparent, humble and cares for his colleagues wanting to know how they are faring.
In her account, the media officer of Rivers Hoopers basketball club, in Port Harcourt and one of the female sports journalists and broadcaster, Queen John, says why Acheru is unique in sports journalism is that he does not want to know the job alone.
Noting that as a good teacher he does not settle for laziness and failure, because as he is teaching you, he will make sure you understand the job effectively.
“China Acheru is a father, brother and a friend you can confide in. He hates laziness and hard work, dedication is his watch word”, John said.
According to her, he does not discriminate anybody that comes his way and is always ready to teach.
China Acheru states that professionalism on the job is the key, being number one in the business is what drives him to success, saying that his lifestyle is actually influenced by the broadcasting greats such as Mitchel Obi, late Mazi Njoku and Yinka Craig
The belief of Acheru is that if you do not develop manpower, it will be difficult for a sector to develop, because it is the human being that will initiate the developmental ideas.
According to him, what makes him happy most is to share his experience on the job with his colleagues, saying that as you teach you gain more experience.
“We need to teach and train the upcoming sports journalists so that they will also train others coming behind them”, he stated.
He advised the upcoming sports journalists to be committed and dedicated to their primary assignment by doing that, success will be easily achieved.

Tonye Orabere