Sports Minister Tasks PCN’s New Board On Service Delivery

ODIMEGWU DOMINIC CHINYEAKA

The Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, has charged the newly elected board of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) to hit the ground running as there is no time ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

A new execuive committee of the PCN was inaugurated by the Sports Minister after an election held in Asaba, Delta State ealy this week. In the poll, Sunday Odebode emerged as the new President of the PCN. Odebode of the Para Table Tennis, polled 12 out of the 19 votes cast to defeat three other contestants, Anderson Bankole (Table Tennis)  Maduakor Paul (Amputee Football) and  Ezenwanne Charles (Para Powerlifting) to emerge victorious in a keenly contested election held Monday 15 May 2023, inside the multipurpose indoor sports hall of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State.

Others elected alongside Mr Sunday Odebode to run the affairs of the Paralympic Committee for the next four years include the 1st Vice President-Shodipo Lateef, 2nd Vice President-Flora Ugwunwa, Secretary General, Isa Suieiman, Assistant Secretary General, Douglas Agbado and the Treasurer, Hon Rafiu Olawale Etti.

<em><strong>Sunday Odebode, PCN new president</strong></em>

Dare, while inaugurating the newly elected board, stressed that his administration takes special interest in the affairs of Para Sports in the country and urged Mr Odebode-led team to hit the ground running immediately considering the fact that the race for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in France has since started.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of PCN electoral committee, Coach Tunde Kazim, former Kwara state Director of Sports, thanked the delegates for their peaceful and orderly conduct during and after the elections, while urging them to be magnanimous in victory by carrying all the members along for the good of the paralympic sports in Nigeria.

Immediate past president, Brig. Gen Emico Eruwa (rtd), who thanked the paralympic family for giving him the opportunity to serve expressed happiness for having his desire to hand over to credible persons.