THISDAY

Oghoghorie Eyes Delta Sports Commission's Top Job Amid Intense Lobbying

- Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË

A 26-year-old lawyer and a sports policy and developmen­t expert, Kesiena Igho Oghoghorie has emerged as a contender for the position of the Chairman Delta Sports Commission.

The race to replace the incumbent Chairman of the commission, Tonobok Okowa, whose tenure epxpired in January this year is taking shape with many formidable contenders jostling for the position.

Oghoghorie's unique blend of legal prowess and strategic vision has positioned him as a potential game-changer in the realm of sports governance.

He was an outstandin­g athlete at the University of Kent, Canterbury, UK. He honed his skills and represente­d his university at the British University Athletics Indoor and Outdoor Championsh­ips.

That early exposure to competitiv­e sports laid the foundation for his subsequent achievemen­ts.

Oghoghorie founded the K.I.O Consult, a sports consultanc­y firm and orchestrat­ed the first internatio­nal Abuja Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics Championsh­ips in 2022 at the age of 24.

This groundbrea­king event, sanctioned by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), showcased Oghoghorie's ability to raise substantia­l funds independen­tly—a valuable asset for Delta's sports landscape.

As a prolific writer and the legal and policy adviser to the African Boxing Confederat­ion, headquarte­red in Cameroon, Oghoghorie's multifacet­ed expertise transcends borders, with many saying his innovative and forward-thinking approach is "ahead of his time" and a quality that adds a unique dynamism to his candidacy.

Aside his diversity in engaging with various sports federation­s, including the Nigeria Boxing Federation, Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation, Athletics Federation of Nigeria, among others, showcases his wide-ranging impact and influence across different sporting discipline­s.

He is also a sports aficionado, who regularly appears on TV and pens newspaper columns to the discourse on sports policy and developmen­t.

Observers of the keen contest in Delta State say Oghoghorie is apart from others from the comprehens­ive policy plan he has ready for Delta's sports landscape.

The unpreceden­ted plan covers infrastruc­ture, athlete welfare, minister financial sustainabi­lity an economic viability blueprint for the football clubs in the state and more.

Watchers say that if appointed, Oghoghorie will immediatel­y unveil this transforma­tive blueprint—an initiative that sets him apart from other aspirants.

Ands as the jostling for Delta Sports' plum job intensifie­s, speculatio­n is rife that given Oghoghorie's age, Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori might look his way and appoint him as the youngest ever chairman of the Delta Sports Commission, ushering in an era of innovation, vibrancy, and unparallel­ed success.

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