The Imo State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), decorated the former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo State, Dr Theodor O. Ekechi, as a patron.
At the investiture and decoration of the latest patron held at the Protea Hotel, Owerri on Monday, the Chairman of Imo SWAN, Comrade Everest Ezihe, said that the recognition was based on his enormous contributions to sports development, especially at the rural communities.
Ezihe described the former commissioner as “an enthusiastic and great lover of the sport who has used his positions to empower and groom a lot of youths especially in the rural areas.”
The SWAN chairman said that Dr Ekechi had for many years been the sponsor and financier of Imerienwe Unity Football Cup Competition in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, a competition which he had used to showcase hidden talents in the community.
Receiving the investiture as patron, Dr Ekechi expressed his warm appreciation for the honour done to him by SWAN in the state.
The business mogul who described the investiture as a patron as a special honour and privilege promised to assist in the development of the association.
Dr Ekechi assured that with the partnership with SWAN, he would do more in the sponsorship of the Imerienwe Unity Football Cup Competition which is in memory of his late father, Okenze Tobias Ekechi.
Ekechi, who attributed the reason for the suspension of the competition to the Covid-19 pandemic, assured that the competition which would be hosted this year would be of the double portion.
According to him, given the pressure from the womenfolk, the competition would be organised in grand style to make up for what was lost in the year’s past.
The former commissioner identified the lack of sports facilities as his major constraint, noting that he had made several efforts to seek government approval before he could embark on the rehabilitation of some of the facilities in the area to ensure healthy competition.
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