President of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), Prince Timothy Nsirim has called for calm as the board is set to hit the ground running with the national championship scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in May.
According to press release signed by the media and communications director, Phemmy Adetula, when the NJF took delivery of new equipment donated by the International Judo Federation to aid the development of the sport in Nigeria. The equipment comprising 162 mats and cartons of Jodogis for all cadres was facilitated by Prince Nsirim who restated plans to revive judo with support of all the stakeholders.
Also, screens and projectors imported from China by the NJF President for officiating and technical use were also inspected by the board while in addition complementary equipment and devices will be procured by the Federation in due course.
The NJF boss said: “I want to plead with all Judokas in the country, let us be calm so that we can move the sport forward. This is the first time in over 15 years that we had this kind of opportunity. More are coming if we are at peace. If we are not at peace, we will not attain the needed height as a federation and that is why at the resolution of the board, I agreed with the choice of our new technical director. I accepted whatever decisions the board has taken and I want everybody to see it as a call for duty, a call to serve”.
On the forthcoming championship, Prince Nsirim said all Judokas wherever they are will be invited for the National Open championship in Port Harcourt in May.
“It will be an all comers event, a very strong championship and it will be sponsored by the Federation, me and the executive governor of Rivers state, Mr Nyesom Wike. We will make it a great championship and all of us will be here, Rivers state sports commissioner, the state sports commission, all will be involved,” said Nsirim.
Board member, Professor Johnson Okpakor eulogised Prince Nsirim for his personal efforts and commitment to take Judo to a new height.
“I gave kudos to the president for providing this great opportunity for our sports and this is just a starting point. If we have people like Prince Nsirim running sports federation, Nigeria will move forward and I pray that during him tenure, the sport will return to its glory days,” said Okpakor.
As part of the board resolution at the end of their meeting in Port Harcourt,Rivers State, Mr Ewa Ekuta Olom, a current IJF A-licenced referee was appointed the technical director of the federation.