Stories by Joe Apu
President of the Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni(rtd), has expressed joy at the scoring status granted the sport for the next National Sports Festival.
The cheering news came as a result of her successful participation at the on-going National Youth sports Festival in Ilorin, Kwara State where Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Sports featured prominently as demonstration events for the second time according to the President had a total of 18 states took part in the exercise that featured 13 events.
Osun State came first with 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal while Ogun state finished second with 2 gold and 1 bronze medal leaving Oyo state with the third position having won 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal according Bunmi Oluode, Secretary General of the Federation
With more stated participating in this second demonstration exercise, the president hinted that his Federation has task of ensuring that more young people from the riverine areas across the country take up Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Sports
“W’ll redouble our effort not only to increase the profile of our sports but would give priority attention to the grassroot especially in the riverine area.
Porbeni commended their sponsor, Sapetro, an upstream Oil and Gas for ensuring that the Federation featured at the Ilorin Festval even as he thanked the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung for believing in the leader ship of the Rowing Federation.