Oil Mogul Becomes Project Father of 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship

…As Reps Speaker Receives Commendation For Lead Role

Paschal Emeka, Abuja / Posted December 27, 2023

As Abuja gears up to host 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship in honour of Nigeria’s president and chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) the championship got a further boost following the appointment of an oil mogul and CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, the largest privately-owned petroleum exploration and production company in Nigeria,
Prince, Engr. Dr. Arthur Eze (Ozoigbondu) OFR, Ebube Ukpo as African Project Father of the continental aquatic sport tournament in Abuja.

International Director of Planning and Implementation for the Championship, Dr. Godwin Tammy N who disclosed this to newsmen shortly after meeting with the oil mogul in his office in Abuja on Saturday said the organising and implementation committee deemed it necessary to name Prince Arthur Eze as as the African project Father of the continental swimming championship because of wealth of experience and huge social capital he would bring to bear on the championship.

Dr. Tammy informed that the event will draw swimmers and aquatic sport stakeholders from no fewer than 32 African countries that would converge on Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Teritory to participate in the 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship, tagged, ‘Peace and Progress’ in honour of ECOWAS chairman and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR.

According to him, the continental water sports event was being put together under the lead role of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and facilitated by Africa Aquatics, Zone 2, Dakar, Senegal and Demakers Business Roundtable Abuja, in appreciation of the charismatic leadership and growing regional influence of the ECOWAS chairman, Ahmed Bola Tinubu in turbulent times in the sub-region.

Dr. Tammy expressed his deep appreciation to Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas for his sacrifice of love and commitment towards President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying that the 1st. African International Invitational Swimming Championship would be a moment of aquatic sport festivity in the Federal Capital Teritory, Abuja.

He hinted that the Minister of the Federal Capital Teritory (FTC), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike will be chief host of the championship, which is being organised in collaboration with relevant institutions within and beyond the African continent, informing that it is the first of its kind ever organised Africa Aquatics for an African leader.

“It promises to be an exciting moment of glory, laced with blissful ectacsy, finese and alluring quality of talents as over five thousand male and female swimmers from 32 African countries will converge on the beautiful city of Abuja to fight for the continental crown. The tournament will attract a collection of regional sports stakeholders and investors that are committed to youth development and empowerment,” Dr. Tammy hinted.

Responding, Prince, Engr. Dr. Arthur Eze, who thanked Africa Aquatics for finding him worthy for appointment, commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dr. Tajudeen Abbas for his lead role in the 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship in honour of ECOWAS chairman and Nigeria’s President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, describing the Speaker as a visionary leader with foresight who is doing everything possible to uphold the tenets of democracy.

It would be recalled that Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas who received the championship’s trophy from Africa Aquatics in Abuja for formal presentation to Mr. President, noted that sport creates job opportunities for the youth population either directly or indirectly in related sectors, such as infrastructure and services, transportation, accommodation, and security which in turn would help to reduce unemployment, improve household income levels as well as boost economic growth.

The Speaker maintained that the forthcoming 1st African Invitational Swimming Championship would be a good platform to discover credible talents that could be groomed and monitored to represent Nigeria at international championships in the future, reiterating that the event would inspire all levels and age grades to participate competitively in a secure environment where participants would be imbued with values such as teamwork, patriotism and courage.

Other members of the project implementation committee on the visit include Vice Chairman, House Committee on Down Stream, Hon. Dr Aliyu Mustapha, the Country Affairs Coordinator, Hon. Kentus Eze and another member of the committee.